Christian Hardy

KC Star sports editor Jeff Rosen constantly shifting in the digital age

2016-12-05T10:11:00.004-06:00

It was late Tuesday night, into the early hours of Wednesday morning, and Kansas City Star sports editor Jeff Rosen was still working. A former University of Missouri tutor said she completed classes, took tests and answered questions for students, and the Star had broken the news.

Contributed Photo

When Rosen started working in sports journalism, it was a time when it could have waited until morning.

But now, at the Star, there isn’t time where he’s truly off the clock.

“My day starts at midnight and it ends around 11:59,” Rosen said. “And that is seven days a week, and I’m only half kidding… That’s just the nature of the business these days.”

His job is constantly changing, simply because it has to. The consequence of that is the difficulties of his job being ramped up. Now, he’s not just managing writers and keeping them creative and happy to be at the Star, but he’s managing the web, how the stories are shared, where they are shared, and tracking all of that with the Star’s trends methods — they have three of those now, Rosen said.

“It was really hard the last few years to give appropriate attention to our writing staff,” Rosen said. “Because we were trying to handle all aspects of the print operation and handle stuff that we had to digitally.”

So, to handle the all of the tasks a sports editor has in 2016, Rosen and the Star had to make a shift in staff. Overall, the staff has fired over 20 people on the editorial side in the last year, but many of those positions have been filled — two on the sports staff — with web-based staffers to help track those trends and boost web traffic.

“We hired — not necessarily a better team of people — just a different strategy of our workforce,” Rosen said. “We're asking more and more of our reporters, and I'm there to kind of be a buffer, and that's hard. It's not something I don't like doing, it just takes up a lot of my attention, to make sure people feel rewarded and valuable still.”

Rachel Crader is one of those hires. She’s now officially the digital sports editor for the Star, but in the past she has been a print reporter at different outlets. But at the Star, her job — along with some others on the digital side and Rosen himself — is to bring clicks to the work other reporters are doing.

Facebook has been a great source for that. Rosen said the Star's Facebook brings in about 80 percent of the Star’s total hits, while 20 percent comes from everything else. That’s why Crader has created Facebook pages for the Star’s Kansas basketball and Kansas City Chiefs sections.

“Facebook, at this point, is like a free space for us to get our content out there, and it's so effective,” Rosen said. “We're closely watching that, and I think most news organizations are these days.”

Then there’s a spot where the two biggest aspects of Rosen’s job — managing content and working with his writers — collide. That’s in how those writers use social media to share their own work — which is the most effective way for those articles to be shared.

“Quite a bit falls onto them, because they're the ones that are the face of the coverage that the readership is reading,” Rosen said. “It's a combination of promoting your content and connecting with people by having fun and being informative. And people like that. If you're uncomfortable in that space, it's advisable to find a comfort level with it soon, because I don't think that's going away.”

Middle of the Map Fest continues expansion, but still breeds local music

2016-05-07T23:12:00.004-05:00

When Chris Haghirian and Nathan Reusch came together to start the Middle of the Map Festival in 2010, they shared a vision of what it could be. That vision was an all-encompassing arts and culture event in Kansas City which mimics South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual music, film, and interactive media festival in Austin, Texas.

Now, six years later, after considerable expansion, both in content and in location, they’ve accomplished much of what they set out to do in emulating the exceptionally popular SXSW. But, at the same time, they’ve kept the festival their own.

Fittingly, Haghirian and Reusch met through local music. And local music, from both Kansas City and Lawrence, is what has kept Middle of the Map Fest different than SXSW. Although now the festival has numerous national acts — this year they hosted the Cold War Kids and Vince Staples — they’ve curated a breeding ground and a community for local artists.

“That was the idea, and the idea for Middle will always be to showcase local talent from great Kansas City and Lawrence bands,” Haghirian, a co-creator of the festival, said. “In order to do that, sometimes you have to bring in the big guns: you need to bring in the Cold War Kids and the base of the Cold War Kids fans, and their fans will come early, and they get to see great local bands.”

This year more attention was turned to the national acts than ever before. That process to bring in more national names came naturally, though, as the Middle of the Map continued to grow from its roots in Westport.

Now acts are branched all over Kansas City; from the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in the middle of downtown Kansas City to multiple venues in the rapidly growing Crossroads district. That sprawling map of shows, along with the streetcar, which opened up this week, gave everyone in Kansas City access to shows and, more importantly, the local music from Thursday to Saturday.

“Just like Kansas City itself is growing and expanding, we as a festival decided that was a good move for us as well,” promotions and events coordinator Ashley Dowgwillo said. “One tagline that we’ve used is, ‘A festival born and raised in Kansas City.’ And that’s exactly what it is.”

Alongside Kansas City, multiple Lawrence acts have helped raise the festival as well. One of those acts is Ebony Tusks, a rap group which is composed of Marty Hillard, Nathan Giesecke and Daniel Smith.

The group performed for a crowd of about 100 people before national acts Gallant, Vince Staples and ZHU played at the Midland on Friday night. Before Ebony Tusks performed, the stage belonged to Kansas City rap duo BLK FLANL, a group which has made plenty of noise in Kansas City since coming onto the scene, just like Ebony Tusks have.

“The festival goes to great lengths to bridge a lot of community gaps,” Hillard said. “They recognize all the community creators, all of the people who foster community between Lawrence and Kansas City, and I think they do a really good job of having them represented in the festival.”

But alongside individual acts, Haghirian and Reusch have admittedly stolen another part of SXSW which has made so popular: showcases. This year, as well as in 2015, Middle of the Map invited Lawrence website I Heart Local Music to host a showcase, which this year featured exclusively Lawrence bands, including Your Friend.

Middle of the Map also organized a 21 and under showcase this year, as well as multiple local record company showcases, including Kansas City record companies High Dive Records and Haymaker Records.

“We saw at SXSW how there are all these different day parties, like NPR, so what we’ve done is work with interesting organizations within our own communities to give them day parties and to let the shine,” Haghirian said. “You piece things together that make sense and you see those things — well, I saw them — for the first time at SXSW.”

But most importantly, for the creators of Middle of the Map, the community has embraced both the national and local music. With the festival’s rapid success, now sprawling 11 venues all over Kansas City, it’s clear that Haghirian and Reusch have learned exactly how to weave music lovers together from all over Kansas City.

Then, in one way, the Middle of the Map Fest is its own. It does not bridge gaps between states, or cultivate music from all over the globe like SXSW has for years. Instead, it has truly mimicked it’s name, bridging the gap between all varieties of music lovers — music aside — in Kansas City.

“We’re lucky to have it so embraced by the community that it’s their own festival; it’s a festival you make of it, and people have embraced it as their own, which is awesome because we’re trying to do something really cool,” Haghirian said. “That’ll always be the goal: to shine a light on the music that’s coming from Kansas City that we think — that everybody in the community thinks — needs to be heard.”

View MOTM Festival's development: From 2011 to 2016 in a full screen map

J415 Final Project: Middle of the Map Gallery

2016-05-07T17:00:00.001-05:00

J415 — TV Story

2016-04-20T14:46:00.001-05:00

Agg. Post 3 — More NFL News

2016-04-13T14:56:00.004-05:00

NFL's Flawed Concussion Research and Ties to Tobacco Industry — The New York Times delves into the NFL covering up some of its flaws in its research, as well as the way it reported concussions. It's an in-depth piece that prompted a response from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Even NFL Players Worry About Money — This piece, from CNN Money, breaks down the struggle of saving money as an NFL player, and the different difficulties they face. CNN does it in an interesting way that puts you in the place of the player.

Taxpayers have spent a staggering amount of money on NFL stadiums in the last 20 years — This piece from FOX breaks down how America is paying for many NFL stadiums. All together, taxpayers have paid for more than $7 billion dollars to build or renovate stadiums. FOX goes stadium by stadium to break it down.

This former NFL player lost $2 million in 90 days — This recalls the story of Marques Ogden, and how everything went from good to horrible in a matter of months. But it wasn't because of football: it was in a separate endeavor.

Make Your Money & Get Out: The New Truth in the NFL — Some players in the NFL are choosing to get in the league, get their money, and get out. For many, that's the path that makes sense, for a multitude of reasons.

J415: Agg. Post 2 — Spending in Free Agency

2016-03-13T11:53:00.000-05:00

Every major NFL free agent signing this offseason
SB Nation provides a full list of the top free agent moves and signings this season in a sortable, easy to use list. Can be sorted by name, position, 2015 team, and 2016 team. It's an easy way to see where notable names have landed in the scrum of free agency.

Editorial: NFL money dominates headlines
Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty writes, "The NFL so completely dominated our sports universe," just days before NFL free agency opened up. Even without games being played, NFL captures the top headlines in sports, and Daugherty takes a peek into what that is like for the Bengals.

Peyton Manning will retire with the highest career earnings in NFL history
Over Peyton Manning's 18-year career with the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, the quarterback acquired over $248 million, according to Spotrac. The money doesn't include endorsement deals from Papa John's or Nike, but does include all bonus and contract money from the Colts and Broncos.

Dolphins restructure Ndamukong Suh's contract
After a disappointing season from their big splash signing last offseason, the Dolphins restructured the deal of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, freeing up $15 million in cap space for the team. With a couple other restructures and the release of receiver Greg Jennings, the Dolphins freed around $23.8 million in cap space.

Los Angeles Rams still executing player contracts in state of Missouri
The Rams relocated the California this offseason, but the team is still presenting contracts to free agents with clauses which state the contract is executed in Missouri. This is an attempt at getting around California's more strict, employee-beneficial workers' compensation laws, Fox Sports believes. It seems the team has avoided a final relocation just to save a little bit of money on the tail end, and their players will take the hit for it.

J415: Photo/Cutline

2016-03-11T03:59:00.000-06:00

Isaac Wallman, 5, from Sterling, Kansas, waits to enter the Johnson County Community College auditorium where Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was set to speak on March 2.

Ahead of his rally at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, on March 2, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks to media.

Republican presidential candidate and Texas senator Ted Cruz speaks on stage at Johnson County Community College on March 2, just three days before the Kansas caucuses. Cruz spoke on the main points of his policy — from repealing Obamacare to second amendment rights — and fired plenty of shots at Donald Trump during his speech.

Republican presidential candidate and Texas senator Ted Cruz pauses during a rally at Johnson County Community College on March 2, just three days before the Kansas caucuses. Cruz spoke on the main points of his policy — from repealing Obamacare to second amendment rights — and fired plenty of shots at Donald Trump during his speech.

Republican presidential candidate and Texas senator Ted Cruz speaks on stage at Johnson County Community College on March 2, in front of a crowd of over 1,000. Cruz spoke on the main points of his policy — from repealing Obamacare to second amendment rights — and fired plenty of shots at Donald Trump during his speech.

After speaking at a rally at Johnson County Community College on March 2, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz meets supporters and signs autographs.

J415: Agg. Post 1 — Super Bowl

2016-02-10T13:30:00.000-06:00

ABC 7 News: Super Bowl Events Will Impact San Francisco for Nearly 3 Weeks
Security measures, extra traffic, and closure of streets meant San Francisco’s already-crowded landscape would become even more crowded for the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl While it’s a hassle for many residents, it’s also an opportunity for business to boom.

San Jose Mercury News: Super Bowl 50: Ready or not, Bay Area, here it comes
The Super Bowl was the largest event the Bay Area has ever hosted, one city official said. But the city and the area were prepared for what would come, despite all the preparation that went into it.

Super Bowl benefits host city, but by how much?
Accounting and consulting firm PwC said last week that the Bay Area would likely see a $220 million economic boost from hosting Super Bowl 50, though past Super Bowls have tallied as much as $500 million.

How much will hosting the Super Bowl cost San Francisco?
Some city officials in San Francisco are upset because the NFL — a $9.2 billion entity — did not pay for expenses involved in throwing the Super Bowl city party, including primarily police overtime and street cleaning. Rather, that’s tacked onto the taxes of the residents of the city. That said, there were many benefits elsewhere, though it’s not clear whether the city really came out on top.

San Francisco Supes Propose Ways To Spend Super Bowl 50 Tax Revenues
Though the economic impact report is not expected until May, the city is reaping the benefits of the tax revenues collected from the game. And with that money, city officials are pitching ways to spend that money.

J304: Final Project

2015-12-13T16:50:00.002-06:00

Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk demonstrators trek through campus to demand action from administration

by Christian Hardy

Around 100 student protestors, led by the student group Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, marched into the chancellor’s office at the University of Kansas on Wednesday.

The group demanded allyship and further action from the administration in addressing racial issues on campus following its organized protest on Wescoe Beach.

“We are still here,” said Katherine Rainey, a member of Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk. “We’re tired of silence from administration. We’re tired of waiting.”

The demonstration began at the School of Social Welfare in Twente Hall, where the group voiced their concerns and demanded the dean of the school Paul Smokowski to send an email to show solidarity with the group’s cause. He did send that email to staff and, later on, students, voicing his support for the group.

As planned, the group moved to Wescoe Beach to protest in front of the student body at noon. Included in the group were Student Senate Body President Jessie Pringle and Vice President Zach George. In November, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, with the support of the Student Executive Committee, had called for the removal of both Pringle and George, as well as Chief of Staff Adam Moon, from the senate due to the slow action on racial issues.

The group stayed at Wescoe Beach for about an hour, led by Rainey, Kynnedi Grant, Jyleesa Hampton and Caleb Stephens and supported by dozens more who held signs supporting Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk’s movement. Slowly, more people joined over the hour until the demonstrators moved to Strong Hall and into the chancellor’s office.

Hampton said the group had been excluded from multiple meetings with administration. The move to confine in the chancellor’s office was in hope that the administration — specifically Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and her staff — would hear the message the activist group has continued to voice.

“We’ve found that administration is not coming to us,” Hampton said. “So we’re coming to them.”

The group did not, however, reach the chancellor directly. Rather, the large mass of students, still led by the same four, spoke with senior vice provost for academic affairs Sarah Rosen; vice provost for diversity and equity Nate Thomas, vice provost for student affairs Tamara Durham, and vice provost for faculty development Mary Lee Hummert.

The main frustration, it seemed, was Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk’s inhibition to make change directly to the University’s policies. Rather, they have been “filibustered” by the administration with layers of “insulation” between the administration and the students who want change, according to Grant. Overall, the group was upset with the administration’s inability, thus far, to adhere to its 15 demands, which it laid out for the administration at the town hall meeting on Nov. 11.

“Students of color are putting in a lot of labor and a lot of free work,” Hampton said. “Why do I have to be translated through an advisory board to speak to you?”

The administration in the chancellor’s office made it clear that, for instances of discrimination, the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access is a place to turn and report those instances. Though many of the problems and instances voiced by Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk came from off-campus, the current Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities does not currently cover off-campus instances. The code is being reviewed by the Student Senate Rights Committee, including the off-campus jurisdiction of the University.

Rosen pointed out that students from the group are included on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group, a group that was created in late November and is chaired by athletics director Sheahon Zenger. The group, Kansas said in a press release, was created to respond to “accounts of intolerance and sensitivity” on campus.

Rosen and Durham both said they could work on blocking the anonymous social media app Yik Yak on campus but, like most other things, that would take time and a long process. However, Rosen said it’s something the administration can look at.

Rainey said no members of administration have met with the group since the town hall meeting, and was skeptical that administration would follow through on any of their plans they have promised.

After Wednesday’s demonstration, which spanned over about four hours all together, Rainey hopes that attention can be centered back to their cause once again. The ultimate goal, Rainey said, is to remind administration that Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk is still there, and a voice within the administration and the discussion is something they are still seeking.

“We need them to support us as they said they would,” Rainey said. “We need them to come up with concrete plans. We need them to adhere to these demands.”

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View the story "Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk takes to Wescoe Beach, Chancellor's Office" on Storify

J304: Race and Diversity Town Hall

2015-11-19T17:40:00.004-06:00

With racial tensions arising around events occurring at the University of Missouri and Yale, KU held a town hall forum on November 11 to give the Lawrence community a chance to talk about race, responsibility, and free speech. Though the meeting was often heated, students came away seeing the community meeting as a "first step".

Kansas Athletics’ model sustainable despite unsustainability throughout college athletics

2015-11-05T12:15:00.002-06:00

In research recently published by University of Kansas assistant professor Jordan Bass, college athletic programs are identified as and related to the “front porch” of a house. If the front porch is dirtied with scandal, the rest of the house — the university — looks bad. Penn State, North Carolina or Rutgers could attest to that. In Kansas’ case, the relationship between the academic and athletic aspects of the school seems to be in balance.

“We have a really good relationship with the hill,” Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said. “The administration has an excellent understanding of athletics, and the role that athletics should play and the place in the University. We are not the most important thing that goes on at this University.”

The first thing people often familiarize a university with is a mascot or an athletic team rather than the academic successes. In that aspect, no athletic department in the country is different than Kansas: branding is a gargantuan task, which, in turn, affects the entire university.

However, with the national exposure from television and other forms of media in the Power 5 conference, branding is made a bit easier — Kansas can thank its standing in the Big 12 for that. That branding, in turn, draws eyes to the University of Kansas as a whole.

“A small Division II school, or NAIA school, or Division III, your first reaction when you go across the country is, 'Who is that? Where is that?’ When you're from KU and you're in California, people don't have that — they have some knowledge of KU, we're on the radar,” said Matt Melvin, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at the University.

“Athletics opens the door. Without those big time athletic programs, we probably wouldn't be part of the conversation.”

The problem for Kansas and other Big 12 schools is the disparaging gap between the funding of athletic programs in the conference. Where Texas pulled in $150.2 million in total revenue in 2010-2011 with no University subsidy, Iowa State brought in only $48.5 million — one-third the total of Texas — including a $3.7 million subsidy. Kansas fell in the middle at $74.8 million in 2010-2011 revenue, according to USA Today.

Marchiony said, just like pro sports, it comes down to the decisions made, recruiting, coaches brought in, and how the team performs on the field — among other things — in building a winning program, rather than the funds the program might have.

“Fortunately, the standings aren’t made up by how much revenue a school brings in,” Marchiony said.

Claire Schaeperkoetter, who co-authored the study on the “front porch,” said she saw it a bit differently, but also came to the same realization: it’s not all about the amount of money pouring into programs.

“It’s definitely not an X-Y equation where, whoever puts in the most money is going to win the most championships,” Schaeperkoetter said. “Everyone wants to be the best, everyone wants to bring in the most money, everybody wants to win the most championships. By virtue, there can only be one best or one athletics department that brings in the most money.”

That competition has created a space where some schools pull attention and funding away from the academic side of the University and push it to the athletics side of things for a small chance to compete with better funded teams.

Bass gave the example of Rutgers, who could have hired 256 assistant professors or 132 full professors with the Universities subsidy money it gave to athletics in 2010. The report also cited the rise in compensation for college coaches, which is up 750 percent since 1984, while professors’ compensation has jumped only 32 percent.

In general, money pushed to athletics has dramatically increased, according to the study. However, the University of Kansas’ subsidy to athletics has dropped in recent years, mostly as a result of the per-semester, per-student athletic fee dropping from $25 to $7. Even before the drop, which was voted in by Student Senate in 2013, Kansas fell in the middle of the Big 12 in percent of revenue brought in via University subsidies.

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University Subsidies in the Big 12

The chart below shows total revenue brought in by Big 12 schools during the 2010-2011 year, then shows what percentage of that money was brought in via university subsidies. It also shows the record of the men’s basketball and football teams in that year to show how the two correlate. The university subsidy numbers were compiled by USA Today; Baylor was not available and will not be part of the chart, since it is considered a private university.

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It’s not the same for non-Power 5 conference schools, which can eat up millions of dollars from students every year, and still fail to compete. At Norfolk State, a university in Virginia, the student athletic fee of $1,440.60 accounts for 23.1 percent of the total tuition — $6,227 per semester.

Over an entire year, with a student body of about 7,000, Norfolk State makes over $20 million from students per year. In athletic fees, Kansas gets less than $1 million per year under the new student fee.

“At some operations (the student fee) is huge. It keeps the operation going. It helps, but that is certainly not the case here,” Marchiony said.

“I do think it's valuable for the students here to realize that they are paying a very minimal expense to athletics at the University compared to what students at many, many other universities pay.”

Though the study comes to the conclusion that current funding of college athletics is not a sustainable model, Kansas’ model seems to be one that works.

Though millions of dollars are in the hands of Kansas Athletics, the department serves a purpose that students pay only $7 a semester for. The athletics, in turn, are able to increase the university brand equity and, in turn, interest and enroll students. It’s all part of building the brand, Marchiony said.

“What (students) tend to land on is this sense of community. Those rituals and traditions, which largely pivot around athletic programs, build that sense of community and that spirit that is very difficult for other institutions to mimic,” Melvin said.

“There's a tendency for students to want to be a part of that; they want to be part of something that allows them to have that kind of connection at a much more grand scale than what they

could do individually.”

Maybe You'll Learn Something: August 2

2015-08-02T23:06:00.000-05:00

Training camp is upon us. And there's a lot to learn about individual NFL players right now. I want to help you learn it. I was posting stuff on my Twitter, and I'll continue to do that, but 140 characters just isn't enough.

I'll post the news, with a link to the news, with my reaction/analysis, and finally a "too long; didn't read" which will simplify it for you. You can read the tl;dr and get the gist of it. I'll try to do this every day, or every other day until training camp ends. Let's get it going.

---

Headline — Trent Richardson has 50 percent chance of making Raiders final roster

Analysis — Richardson isn't a good running back, and coming into camp out of shape and overweight won't help his case. The Raiders intentionally signed the mega-bust to a low-guarantee contract in case of that exact scenario. Latavius Murray is the team's No. 1 through and through, and Roy Helu has the third-down job locked up too. Richardson probably wouldn't compete for carries even if he stuck on this team.

TL;DR — Trent Richardson isn't good at football.

Headline — Marvis Bryant will miss some time after a elbow procedure

Analysis — He's will probably be held out of the Hall of Fame game next Sunday for precaution, and likely won't miss any other preseason games. Ben Roethlisberger said Markus Wheaton is the team's No. 2 receiver with confidence on Sunday morning, though some still expect Bryant to be able to swoop that spot up from him. That hurts Bryant more than anything.

Roethlisberger: "I think Markus Wheaton is our breakout player of the year... I want that... he's our No. 2." #Steelers
— Christian Hardy (@HardyNFL) August 2, 2015

It doesn't sound like it'll be an easy task for Bryant, especially with Ben backing him. Bryant is clearly the more talented, exciting player out of the two., but at his current ADP, I'd shy away.

TL;DR — Bryant should ultimately win the No.2 receiver job for the Steelers, but the injury/Ben's confidence in Wheaton won't help.

Headline — Cowboys beat writer expects Joseph Randle to handle 15 carries per game
Analysis — The writer adds that he sees Darren McFadden logging 10 per game, and Lance Dunbar logging 5, though he'll be more of a receiving threat than anything. He also said Randle will be "fine" as a DeMarco Murray replacement, and I'm completely on board with that. Watching about 95 percent of the Cowboys snaps last year, I have confidence in saying that there are about 50 backs in the NFL that would be "fine" or better in replacing Murray. They might not be as good, but they will be "fine". This line is absolutely incredible, and there's plenty of backs that can run behind it. That's exactly what Randle will do.
TL;DR — Randle will be "fine" as a DeMarco Murray replacement, and that's okay.

Headline — Jordan Mathews playing the slot for the Eagles in camp
Analysis — I absolutely love this for the Eagles offense. If Bradford is even a mediocre quarterback, this offense is going to be very, very hard to stop with Mathews towering over any slot corner he goes against, just like Marques Colston does with the Saints. It'll be Nelson Agholor and Riley Cooper likely on the outside by the time the Week 1 rolls around, but Josh Huff is in the mix too. I'm on board with taking Mathews as the 18th overall WR, but no higher. His floor is sort of capped with Bradford at QB, for me.
TL;DR — Matthews playing the slot is awesome, but where he is being drafted in fantasy football is around his ceiling.

Headline — Matt Cassel has been a leader in the clubhouse
Analysis — Cassel isn't going to dazzle on the field, but he has far and away the most NFL experience. He's likely to be the least mistake-prone because of it, too. E.J. Manuel (no surpsise) has been awful in camp, and Tyrod Taylor hasn't really been given a chance to really take the job away from Cassel yet. No matter what quarterback this team decides to go with, it's not going to be pretty. It's why there's no real fantasy prospects that I'm interested in on this whole squad.
TL;DR — Projected Bills QB depth chart: Matt Cassel — Starter, Tyrod Taylor — Backup, E.J. Manuel — 3rd string or cut.

Headline — Duke Johnson has a hamstring injury that will keep him out "a little while"
Analysis — Some are on board with this Browns running back, but here's the problem: I stray away from runners on bad teams. I especially stray away from rookies who are missing out on valuable practice time due to an injury on a bad team. With Terrance West and Glenn Winston also sidelined, Isaiah Crowell will dominate the carries at camp for some time. Stay as far away as you can from Duke Johnson, especially when he isn't in camp learning blocking schemes, offense, etc. It's not a good look.
TL;DR — Stay away from Browns RBs, especially Duke Johnson.

Headline — Terrelle Pryor got some reps with the first team
Analysis — He's officially back. Terrelle Pryor is officially back, and he's committed himself to being a wide receiver. At 6'5", this is extremely exciting. It's not exactly the most difficult task to get reps when you're on a team whose wide receiver corps are among the worst in the NFL, but it's impressive nonetheless. Even Joe Haden is on board with Pryor as a receiver, and is on record saying he looks natural in the position. Guys, this is freakin' awesome. We could see Johnny Manziel throwing to Terrelle Pryor in preseason or even at some point in the regular season. I'm pumped. Pryor isn't draftable, but definitely worth a look in any dynasty format due to his size.
TL;DR — Terrelle Pryor is exciting. Keep and eye on him.

Headline — Marcus Mariota has been perfect at camp thus far
Analysis — He hasn't even thrown an interception at camp, according to himself. And he's linking up with Hakeem Nicks tremendously well (a good sign for Nicks, too). While the front on Jameis Winston is relatively quiet, the second overall pick has been dominating camp. Obviously, we have yet to see him in a real-game scenario. But this is certainly a good start for Mariota's career.
TL;DR — Mariota hasn't shit the bed (yet).

No Offseason — April

2015-04-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

After free agency has (mostly) concluded, NFL news has taken a bit of a break. But that doesn't mean there's not headlines to talk about it. Below are some of the most notable headline from the month of April and my reaction to each. With happenings being blogged about here, the free agency live blog will no longer be continued.

4/1/15 — Raiders sign QB Matt Schaub
Schaub will serve as the backup to QB Joe Flacco. He's probably getting used to riding that bench.

4/1/15 — Desmond Bishop returns to the 49ers
The 49ers gave Bishop a one-year deal. Bishop has struggled to stay on the field and has passed his prime, but the 49ers are desperate for linebackers. He'll likely serve as a camp body, and struggle to find a place on the roster. His career has been marred by injuries.

4/1/15 — The Colts signed WR Vincent Brown
This is a crowed position for the Colts now, though Brown certainly isn't guaranteed a roster spot. Brown hasn't done a whole lot since 2012, when he missed the season with a broken ankle. He only notched 12 catches in a bad Raiders receiving core last season, and was in and out of the gameday lineup. He won't be in Indy for long.

4/1/15 — Bears sign RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Rodgers will likely serve as a passing-down only back, though Matt Forte has served that role well in the past. More likely than not, he'll ride the bench until Forte gets banged up, then he'll share carries with second-year back Ka'deem Carey. Rodgers is by no means a good running back, though he does understand NFL offenses and is a solid blocker.

4/1/15 — Romo would have taken pay-cut for DeMarco Murray
Romo actually did take that paycut eventually, but the Cowboys were up against the cap. Jones and Co. just didn't have space for Murray, even if they wanted him. Romo is going to convert much of his base salary into a "signing bonus", which clears up cap for the Cowboys. Dallas will likely run with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden at running back this season behind an absolutely stacked offensive line. A trade for Adrian Peterson is essentially out of the question (see: cap).

4/1/15 — The Texans signed WR Nate Washington
Washington has always been solid, but he's starting to even lose that as he's going on age 32. However, he will have a chance to win the No. 2 wide receiver job, just as he had in Tennessee, behind WR DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. Cecil Shorts III will also compete for that role. (Update: the team drafted WR Jaelen Strong, who is likely to steal that second starting spot by the time the season comes around, especially if Shorts goes back to his usual injured ways.()

4/2/15 — Dolphins sign former Bucs QB Josh Freeman
Well, hell, Freeman, it's been a while. Actually, since 2013. The former first round pick will try to make the Dolphins roster after completely blowing his chance with the Vikings in 2013, where he completed just over 40 percent of his passes and threw four interceptions in four games. Matt Moore is going to be the No. 2 QB behind Ryan Tannehill, so Freeman's best hope is to win the No. 3 job.

4/3/15 — Bucs trade safety Dashon Goldson to the Redskins
Goldson was traded to the Redskins along with a seventh-round pick, and the Bucs got a sixth-round pick. The value was about right: Goldson has been pretty bad since around 2010. The Redskins will take on a $8 million cap hit with the signing of the mediocre, over-the-hill safety.

4/3/15 — Sammy Watkins underwent hip surgery
It's not serious, luckily. He'll be ready to go by training camp.

4/3/15 — Colts agree to terms with S Dwight Lowery
Lowery simply wasn't good in coverage last year. The top remaining safeties were Lowery, Stevie Brown and Bernard Pollard, and the Colts stuck with Lowery. He signed on for under $1 million.

4/4/15 — NFL hires female official, Sen'Derrick Marks questions motives
Interesting read. Not much analysis to add.

4/6/15 — Bengals sign WR Denarius Moore
Moores is an absolute speedster, and matches up with an offensive coordinator who loves his speedsters: Hue Jackson. Jackson and Moore were together back in Oakland in 2011, when Moore has his best season,though he had to fight through some injuries. If Moore can become more consistent, he will compete for playing time on this team, though he won't be fantasy relevant without an injury higher up the depth chart.

4/7/15 — Lawrence Tynes sues Bucs for MSRA
Tynes is suing for a whopping $20 million after he contracted staph infection in the Bucs locker room in what became a bit of an outbreak. After that, he was never signed by another NFL team. Tynes is looking to be compensated for his missed time because of unsanitary work conditions. The MSRA bug also killed off Carl Nicks' career, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a case come from him either.

4/7/15 — Dante Fowler would be "stunned" if Jaguars pass him up at No. 3
Fowler is the consensus top edge rusher in this draft, and could be the pick to end the Jaguars first-round pick slump. (Update: This came true on draft day, only two picks after Jameis Winston was selected first overall.)

4/7/15 — Blount suspended for one game for violating substance abuse policy
Blount was pulled over with then teammate Le'Veon Bell, and the pair were found in possession of marijuana. The possession charge was dropped after he complete community service, but he still had to be served by the NFL. He will still be allowed to participate in camp and the offseason program, but will miss the Week 1 game, as the Patriots begin their run to defend their title.

4/7/15 — Chargers exercise fifth-year option on Melvin Ingram
It may be worth it to have Ingram under contract after this season, as many think he has the potential to really break out. Ingram has missed 19 games over the last two year, but could be one of the best edge rushers in the league if he stays on the field. The Chargers bring another level of pass-rush with Ingram on the field. 2015 is a massive year for the big guy from South Carolina.

4/7/15 — Aaron Hernandez Lawyer acknowledges he witnessed the murder
This was their best defense. See final result of the trial below.

4/8/15 — Eric Berry "doing really good" in fight against Lymphoma

4/8/15 — RB Stevan Ridley signs with Jets
Ridley's 2014 was cut short after he tore his ACL and MCL, and is only five months removed from that surgery. It's a one year deal for the power back, who will compete with Chris Ivory for a roster spot, in all likelihood. With only $80,000 of his $1.25 million guaranteed, he certainly is not a lock for the roster.

4/9/15 — RB Le'Veon Bell suspended for three games
Bell violated the league's substance abuse policy when he was pulled over with former teammate LeGarrette Blount and found in possession of marijuana. He's going to appeal the suspension, which may take some time to get the suspension set in stone, but it should stick. DeAngelo Williams and Dri Archer should share the workload to start the season for the Steelers.

4/9/15 — Browns, TE Rob Housler ink one-year deal
Housler only lasted this long because a multitude of teams were interested. Housler will fit right into the gap that Jordan Cameron left on this Browns squad when he left for the Dolphins. The one-year deal is perfect for Housler, who hasn't yet reached his full potential. It leaves him open to earn a long-term deal if he can prove himself during this season.

4/9/15 — Colts will exercise QB Andrew Luck's fifth-year option
This is a no-brainer. The quarterback will make $16.155 in 2016 on his last year of his rookie deal. The only question left is whether he can bring a Super Bowl back to Indianapolis.

4/9/15 — Panthers ink CB Charles Tillman
Tillman has battled with injuries as his NFL career winds down; he's only played 10 games in the last two years and he's entering his age 34 season. This is nothing but a spot signing for the Panthers, who will use Tillman in the slot, more than likely. It's an improvement on their secondary, but not one that will last long.

4/10/15 — Jets hold private workout with Brett Hundley
I found this interesting, since the Jets ended up taking Hundley in the NFL Draft. Pre-draft visits and workouts do matter, sometimes.

4/10/15 — Victor Butler suspended for four games
Butler's career never got on track after he tore his ACL a few years ago with Dallas, and this isn't going to help it. The edge-rusher showed promise across from DeMarcus Ware early in his career, but has never quite blossomed. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Giants cut Butler, who is on a reserve/future contract.

4/10/15 — Dolphins extend C Mike Pouncey
Pouncey was drafted in 2011 and was set to become a free agent after this season. Pouncey missed some of 2014 with a hip injury, then played guard rather unsuccessfully, grading out as one of the worst OGs on ProFootballFocus. However, Pouncey was a top 15 center in 2013. I expect Pouncey to play center again in 2015. The extension was worth $45 million over five years with $22 million guaranteed, a gross over-payment of the center, in my opinion

4/11/15 — Jets pick-up fifth-year option on Quinton Coples
The team will pay him almost $8 million in 2016 with the option. Coples is still coming into his own on the Jets roster, but has the potential to be a top flight edge rusher in the NFL. He'll be in New York as part of their strong-handed front seven for the next two years, at least.

4/11/15 — Broncos sign H-back James Casey to one-year deal
Casey will be moving on from the Eagles, officially. Casey will reunite with former Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak in Denver, and it's sure to be a good match. The team is trying to replace TE Julius Thomas, who signed with the Jags this offseason, and Casey will likely be a part of that, as he can lineup all over the field and do a whole lot of things. The team also signed Owen Daniels and has Virgil Green as depth with the potential to breakout.

4/12/15 — Titans think Mettenberger is a poor man's Tom Brady
This is a good joke by whoever planted this story in the Titans organization. It's pretty clear they will be taking Marcus Mariota and replacing Mettenberger but the end of the month. Plus, Mettenberger was pretty bad last year. The only thing Mettenberger and Brady have in common are their sixth round pick status and the fact that they are QBs.

4/13/15 — Michael Crabtree signing with the Raiders

4/14/15 — Steelers CB Ike Taylor retiring

4/15/15 — Bucs, Lions agree to trade for DE George Johnson
George Johnson and the Lions were fixing to go to court over a contract dispute. Instead, they moved him to another team, and he'll play on a three-year, $9 million deal. He'll be joining a Bucs defense that is pretty depleted, but has its strength in the defensive line, as he'll be playing opposite Jacquies Smith and next to Akeem Spence.

4/15/15 — Former Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez convicted of first-degree murder
Hernandez is going to jail for life without a chance of parole. The uber talented Florida prospect never got his head in the right place, and ended up taking at least one person's life in the process. It was actually believed that Hernandez might be able to win this case, since the defense had argued that he didn't actually pull the trigger. With the track record of celebrities in the court room, it wouldn't have been a shock to see him win the case. Instead, he won't see the light of day for the rest of his life.

4/17/15 — Browns QB Johnny Manziel out of rehab, reminds people it will be a process
When Manziel said "process" in his statement, he meant in regaining the trust and vote of confidence from his teammates. And he's going to need it. It's very possible that the Browns go into the NFL season with Manziel as their QB. It's not a bad roster, and if the team isn't behind their quarterback, they don't have a chance to go very far. He seems very sincere about getting it right off the field an repairing his image, now all is left is how he performs on the field.

4/18/15 — C Stefen Wisniewski joining the Jaguars
The former Raider is headed to another warm and sunny place: Jacksonville, Fla. It's only going to be a one-year deal for the 2011 second-round pick. He's a versatile OL-man who can play the guard positions as well for the Jags.

4/19/15 — Eagles sign QB Tim Tebow
Eat your heart out: Tebow reigns supreme. He'll be on an NFL roster for the first time since the 2013 season, after a two-year break from the NFL which included a stint in the broadcast booth. Some thin he'll be a camp arm, but Chip Kelly profusely has defended his chance to a real spot in the offense. He'll start as the fifth QB on the squad behind Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and G.J. Kinne.

4/20/15 — Antonio Brown seeking a new deal
Brown isn't going to be in Steelers offseason workouts until he gets a new contract. He's the first of many we'll touch on. He signed a six-year deal three summers ago, but has outproduced that contract. He's emerged to become a sure-fire top five wide receiver in the league. It's possible that Brown can even abstain from the team through training camp, though it's not been confirmed. The Steelers certainly have plenty of time to get something worked out before we get to that point.

4/20/15 — SS Adrian Wilson will retire with the Cardinals
Wilson is 35 years old and hasn't played in an NFL game since 2012; this was a long time coming. He only played on a football field with the Arizona Cardinals in his career, and signed a one-year contract to retire with the team. His prime came between 2004-2006 as he averaged over 80 tackles in those three years, and even tabbed 13 sacks in 2005 and 2006. He went to five Pro Bowls and was once and All-Pro safety.

4/21/15 — Michael Bennett absent from Seahawks workouts
I was told that Bennett is happy in Seattle, but he feels as if he's not being compensated fairly. He hasn't specifically requested a trade, but he does want to be paid the same as those players who are producing in his range. These workouts are voluntary, so it's not too serious yet. I expect Bennett to be in Seattle this year, but not happily; he won't be extended until next offseason, in all likelihood.

4/21/15 — Ravens extend CB Jimmy Smith
The extension is a big one: four years, $48 million, with $21 million guaranteed according to the linked source. He's going to be in Balitmore until 2019 with that deal (his age 31 season). He's a top 10 corner in the league without a doubt, and he's continually gotten better with the exception of last year, when he was hurt. He's well worth the money.

4/22/15 — NFL releases 2015 schedule
Some of my favorites:

Seattle @ Green Bay (Week 2) — 2014 NFC Championship
Arizona /Seattle (Week 10/17) — Battle for the NFC West... this time with Carson Palmer
Seattle @ Dallas (Week 8) — My two best teams in the NFC
New England @ Indianapolis (Week 6) — Luck vs. Brady and maybe the two best teams in the AFC.
Denver @ Indianapolis (Week 9) — Maybe the last time we see Peyton Manning play at Lucas Oil Stadium
New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills (Week 10/17) and New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills (Week 2/11) — The Bills are going to be really exciting, and I can't wait to see Rex Ryan take on his former team.

4/23/15 — Greg Hardy suspended for 10 games, but will appeal

The ten game suspension is far too much for the new Cowboys pass rusher. The NFL already barred Hardy from playing for almost an entire season last year for a crime that later was settled outside the courtroom. If he was guilty, the NFL could defend this suspension. But now, the NFL have completely flipped the way we see domestic violence suspensions in the league; where NFL used to reactively suspend a player after a court decision, now a player can be suspended without even being ruled guilty in a case. Of course, this disaster of a format all sprouts from the Ray Rice incident, which began this precedent. If the suspension is upheld, Hardy will have missed 25 games for a crime that he was not found guilty of. Good job, NFL.

4/23/15 — Titans picking up WR Kendall Wright's fifth-year option

He's going to make $7.3 million with the deal. It's only guaranteed for injury, so the team can opt out after this year if they want. If he had been drafted by the Packers, he may be on par with Randall Cobb as one of the top slot WRs in the NFL. Instead, he's been bogged down by a terrible franchise who can't find a quarterback. It's too bad, and now he won't hit free agency until he's 27.

4/24/15 — NFL team could share a stadium with EPL's Tottenham
We've known that an NFL team could be in London for some time now, and now Roger Goodell has a timeframe of when he can move a team in. Wembley Stadium, of course, is open for business now, but Goodell also could move a team to Tottenham's stadium, which opens in 2018-19. The club says it's interested in hosting an NFL team if a team were to be located to London. It's something to keep in mind if talks of an NFL team to London ever really ramp up.

4/24/15 — Hakeem Nicks signs with the Titans
Nicks is only guaranteed $100,000 on this deal, but the deal maxes out at $1.4 million. Before he even thinks about money, though, he's going to have to make the roster. The injury-ridden receiver has never lived up to the hype, which means he'll fit perfectly in with the worst franchise in the NFL. Nicks will have easy competition though: Harry Douglas, Clyde Gates, and Jacoby Ford, among others.

4/24/15 — Chiefs pick up fifth year option on Dontari Poe
This was a no-brainer, as the former first round nose tackle has made the Pro Bowl twice in his three year career. Poe is a freak, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon, and it certainly won't come to an end in the next two years. The extra year on the contract is worth a $6.146 million.

4/26/15 — LSU CB Jalen Collins failed multiple drug tests
Collins — a consensus top five CB in the draft — didn't fall too far after this news. He went with the10th pick of the second round, 42nd overall. Still, its a big negative, as he ended up only playing 10 games at LSU. He was never a full-time player, which also detracts from his value, but he's very good in press coverage and had the second best burn rate of any CB coming into the NFL. His measurable, including a 4.48 40-yard dash time, have also helped his value.

4/27/15 — RG3 will be in Washington for a fifth year
This is a big of a surprise: The Redskins will pay QB Robert Griffin III $16.1 million in 2016, although that number is only guaranteed for injury. So, essentially, if Robert Griffin III is healthy come next season, the Redskins can flip-flop and let Griffin hit free agency. It's still a bit early to tell if Griffin is going to be a franchise quarterback; if he is, he's well worth the money. If he can stay on the field for all 16 games this year, we might get a better look at what Griffin can bring to the table in the future.

4/27/15 — Rams exercise fifth-year option on DT Michael Brockers
Brockers has been a significant starter over his time with the team, so this is no surprise. The fifth year will be worth just over $6 million. He's one of the safest DTs in the league, and you know exactly what you're getting from him. After the team signed Nick Fairley this offseason, it's possible the Rams drop this fifth-year after this season if he's not deemed worth the money.

4/27/15 — Eagles pick up fifth-year on DT Fletcher Cox
In the 2012 draft, Dontari Poe, Fletcher Cox, and Michael Brockers were taken from picks 11-14. Now all three have been extended to a fifth-year. Cox has emerged as one of the best DTs in the NFL in his first three years, and is maybe the face of the Eagles defense since Trent Cole was moved from the team.

4/28/15 — Shane Ray already in NFL's substance abuse program
This comes after Ray was cited for marijuana possession, and means Ray is now subject to random drug testing. If he fails a drug test, he will be suspended for four games. He's already failed drug tests in the past at Missouri, and has also already been dealing with a toe injury, though that won't require surgery. Ray should still go towards the bottom end of Thursday's first round.

4/28/15 — Dion Jordan suspended for one year
Oh boy. He suspended the league's substance abuse policy again, and will not be appealing the suspension after his sample was deemed diluted by the NFL. This the third suspension for the former third-overall pick. Jordan is on his way to becoming the biggest bust in recent years, as he hasn't played 16 games since his rookie year, when he logged only two sacks. Unless he turns his career around, he could be on is way out after a short stay in the NFL.

4/28/15 — Jets fined for tampering
It's a $100,000 fine because the team contacted CB Darrelle Revis while he was still a member of the Patriots. The infraction first began when Jets' owner Woody Johnson said he would "love for Darrelle to come back" to New York in December. Though the Jets projected tampering charges back onto their AFC East rivals, New England was not fined.

4/29/15 — Bears taking trade offers for Martellus Bennett
Bennett isn't at Bears voluntary workouts, but has been doing work on his own. With that the team has decided to try to move him, according to Adam Schefter. The former Cowboy and Giant would be a solid addition for any team: standing at 6'6", Bennett is a monster in the redzone. It's also worth noting that coach John Fox said he expects Bennett to be on his roster when the team concludes the draft. He'll likely be a more coveted asset for Chicago with Brandon Marshall out of the picture.

4/30/15 — Texans sign S Stevie Brown to one-year deal
Brown was always going to land on an NFL team, it was just a matter of when. The 27-year-old had a handful of offers and was just trying to narrow his list down. Brown will join a safety corps where he should likely fit in as a backup, with Rahim Moore and D.J. Swearinger already in the mix. However, with the team trying to trade Swearinger, Brown could have a chance to start at strong safety.

4/30/15 — Bucs takes QB Jameis Winston first overall
It was the pick that we all expected. Winston will fit well into Dirk Koetter's up-tempo offense, the same offense the Falcons have run in the past. There's no reason we shouldn't see Winston start Week 1 over Mike Glennon. The NFL schedule pits the first two picks of the draft — Winston and Titans new QB Marcus Mariota — against each other in Week 1.

———

So, this is where I leave you: the NFL Draft. With 100+ links, it's clear: there is no offseason in the NFL. There's always something going on — a player getting in trouble, getting signed, getting cut, retiring, or teams making moves. I hope that I helped you stay on top of what was happening in the NFL, because posting here certainly helped me do just that.

J302: Unrestricted Free Agent Rankings

2015-03-09T21:05:00.002-05:00

This list was first compiled by Rotoworld. The players are re-ordered to reflect my own rankings.

Quarterbacks
1. Mark Sanchez — Re-signed with Eagles (2-year, $9M)
2. Jake Locker — Retiring from football

3. Josh McCown — Signed with Browns (3-year, $14M)

4. Brian Hoyer — Signed with Texans (2-year, $10.5M)
5. Ryan Mallett — Re-signed with Texans (2-year, $7M)
6. Christian Ponder — Signed with Raiders

7. Matt Moore — Re-signed with Dolphins
8. Matt Schaub — Signed with Ravens (1-year, $2M)

9. Shaun Hill — Signed with Vikings (2-year, $6.5M)
10. Michael Vick
11. Tarvaris Jackson

12. Matt Hasselbeck — Re-signed with Colts (1-year, $3M)
13. Colt McCoy — Re-signed with Redskins (1-year deal)
14. Jimmy Clausen — Re-signed with Bears (1-year, $1.125M)
15. Blaine Gabbert — Re-signed with 49ers (2-year, $2M)

16. Jason Campbell
17. Dan Orlovsky — Re-signed with Lions (1-year, $1.05M)
18. Kellen Moore — Re-signed with Lions (2-year deal)
19. T.J. Yates — Re-signed with Falcons (1-year, $1.5 million)
20. Tyrod Taylor — Signed with Bills
21. Matt Flynn

Running Backs
1. DeMarco Murray — Signed with Eagles (5-year, $42M)

2. Mark Ingram — Re-signed with Saints (4-year, $16M)
3. C.J. Spiller — Signed with Saints (4-year, $18M)
4. Ryan Mathews — Signed with Eagles (3-year, $11.5M)
5. Justin Forsett — Re-signed with the Ravens (3-year deal)

6. Shane Vereen — Signed with Giants (3-year, $12.35M)

7. Roy Helu — Signed with Raiders (2-year, $4M)
8. Frank Gore — Signed with Colts (3-year, $12M)
9. Stevan Ridley — Signed with Jets (1-year, $1.25M)

10. Ahmad Bradshaw

11. Reggie Bush — Signed with 49ers (1-year $2.5M)
12. Pierre Thomas

13. Knowshon Moreno
14. Ben Tate
15. Trent Richardson — Signed with Raiders (2-year, $3.9M)

15. Darren McFadden — Signed with Cowboys (2-year, $5.85M)

16. DeAngelo Williams — Signed with Steelers (2-year, $4M)
17. Bilal Powell — Re-signed with Jets (1-year, $2M)

18. Steven Jackson

19. Chris Johnson
20. Antone Smith — Re-signed with Falcons (1-year, $1.4M)
21. Jacquizz Rodgers — Signed with Falcons (1-year deal)

Fullbacks

1. Jerome Felton — Signed with Bills (4-year $9.2M)
2. Henry Hynoski — Re-signed with Giants (2-year, $2M)
3. Jed Collins — Signed with Cowboys (1-year, $810K)
4. John Kuhn — Signed with Packers (1-year, $870K)
5. Tyler Clutts
6. John Conner
7. Will Tukuafu — Re-signed with Seahawks (1-year, $825K)
8. Jackie Battle
9. Montell Owens

Wide Receivers
1. Dez Bryant — Franchise Tagged by Cowboys ($12.8M)
2. Demaryius Thomas — Franchise Tagged by Broncos ($12.8M)
3. Randall Cobb — Re-signed with Packers (4-year, $40M)
4. Jeremy Maclin — Signed with Chiefs (5-year, $55M)
5. Torrey Smith — Signed with 49ers (5-year, $40M)

6. Andre Johnson — Signed with Colts (3-year, $21M)

7. Percy Harvin — Signed with Bills (3-year, $24M)
8. Michael Crabtree — Signed with Raiders (1-yea, $3M)

9. Kenny Britt – Re-signed with Rams (2-year, $14M)

10. Stevie Johnson — Signed with Chargers (3-year, $10.5M)

11. Cecil Shorts — Signed with Texans (2-year, $6M)

12. Brian Hartline — Signed with Browns (2-year, $6M)

13. Hakeem Nicks — Signed with Titans (1-year, $1.4M)
14. Dwayne Bowe — Signed with Browns (2-year, $12.5M)
15. Greg Jennings — Signed with Dolphins (2-year, $8M)
16. Eddie Royal — Signed with Bears (3-year, $15M)
17. Nate Washington — Signed with Texans (1-year, $1M)

18. Mike Williams
19. Reggie Wayne
20. Denarius Moore — Signed with Bengals (1-year, $825K)

21. Dwayne Harris — Signed with Giants (5-year, $17.5M)
22. Leonard Hankerson — Signed with Falcons (1-year, $1M)

23. Ted Ginn — Signed with Panthers (2-year, $4.2M)

24. Jacoby Jones — Signed with Chargers (2-year, $5.5M)

25. Harry Douglas — Signed with Titans (3-year deal)
26. Jarrett Boykin — Signed with Panthers (1-year deal)

27. Jerrel Jernigan
28. Vincent Brown — Signed with Colts (1-year deal)

29. Brandon Gibson — Signed with Patriots (1-year, $825,000)
30. Miles Austin — Signed with Eagles (1-year, $2.3M)

31. Donnie Avery
32. Marcus Easley — Re-signed with Bills (4-year, $7M)
33. Derek Hagan
34. Robert Meachem

35. Lance Moore
36. Brian Tyms — Re-signed with Patriots

Tight Ends
1. Julius Thomas — Signed with Jaguars (5-years, $46M)
2. Jordan Cameron — Signed with Dolphins (2-year, $15M)
3. Charles Clay — Signed with Bills (5-year, $38M)
4. Jermaine Gresham
5. Niles Paul — Re-signed with Redskins (3-year, $6M)

6. Rob Housler — Signed with Browns (1-year, $1.76M)
7. Virgil Green — Re-signed with Broncos (3-year deal)

8. Lance Kendricks — Re-signed with Rams (4-year, $18.5M)
9. Owen Daniels — Signed with Broncos (3-year, $12M)

10. Zach Miller — Re-signed with Bears (1-year deal)

11. James Casey

12. Anthony Fasano — Signed with Titans
13. Scott Chandler — Signed with Patriots
14. Tony Moeaki — Signed with Falcons
15. Lee Smith — Signed with Raiders (3-year, $9M)

16. Dante Rosario — Signed with Bears

17. Matt Spaeth — Re-signed with Steelers (2-year deal)
18. Jacob Tamme — Signed with Falcons (2-year, $4M)

19. Ed Dickson — Re-signed with Panthers (3-year deal)

20. Daniel Fells — Signed with Giants (1-year, $950k)

21. David Ausberry
22. Luke Stocker — Re-signed with Bucs (2-year deal)

Offensive Tackles
1. Bryan Bulaga — Re-signed by Packers (5-year, $35 million)
2. Doug Free — Re-signed by Cowboys (3-year, $15M)
3. Derek Newton — Re-signed by Texans (5-year, $26.5M)
4. King Dunlap — Re-signed by Chargers (4-year, $28M)
5. Byron Bell — Signed with Titans (1-year, $1.5M)

6. Joe Barksdale
7. Jermey Parnell — Signed with Jaguars (5-year, $32M)

8. Jason Fox — Re-signed with Dolphins (2-year, $2.5M)

9. Jake Long
10. Ryan Harris

11. Eric Winston — Re-signed with Bengals

12. Joe Reitz — Re-signed with Colts (3-year, $9M)
13. Anthony Collins
14. Corey Hilliard — Signed with Jets
15. Tyler Polumbus
16. Marshall Newhouse — Signed with Giants (2-year, $3.25M)

17. Michael Oher — Signed with Panthers (2-year, $7M deal)
18. Erik Pears — Signed with 49ers (2-year deal)
19. Byron Stingily — Re-signed with Titans (2-year deal)
20. Garry Williams
21. Ben Ijalana — Re-signed with Jets

22. Chris Hairston

Guards/Centers
1. Mike Iupati — Signed with Cardinals (5-year, $40M)
2. Orlando Franklin — Signed with Chargers (4-year, $36.5M)
3. Rodney Hudson — Signed with Raiders (5-year, $44.5M)
4. Stefen Wisniewski — Signed with Jags (1-year, $2.5M)
5. Clint Boling — Re-signed with Bengals (5-year, $26M)

6. Chris Myers

7. Justin Blalock

8. Todd Herremans — Signed with Colts (1-year, $2.25M)

9. James Carpenter — Signed with Jets (4-year, $19M)

10. Brian De La Puente
11. Rob Sims

12. Will Montgomery — Signed with Bears (1-year deal)

13. Scott Wells
14. Dominic Raiola
15. Jonathan Goodwin
16. Willie Colon — Re-signed with Jets (1-year deal)
17. Kyle Sendlein

18. Mike Pollak
19. Shelley Smith — Signed with Broncos (2-year, $5.65M)

20. Charlie Johnson
21. Joe Berger — Re-signed with Vikings (2-year, $2.155M)
22. Dan Connolly

23. Samson Satele
24. A.Q. Shipley — Signed with Cardinals (2-year deal)
25. Paul Fanaika — Signed with Chiefs (3-year, $8.1M)
26. J.D. Walton — Signed with Dolphins
27. Adam Snyder
28. Davin Joseph
29. Chad Rinehart

Edge Defenders
1. Justin Houston — Franchise Tagged by Chiefs
2. Jason Pierre-Paul — Franchise Tagged by Giants

3. Jerry Hughes — Re-signed by Bills (5-year, $45M)
4. Greg Hardy — Signed with Cowboys (1-year, $11.3M)
5. Brian Orakpo — Signed with Titans (4-year, $32M)
6. Pernell McPhee — Signed with Bears (5-year, $39M)
7. Jabaal Sheard — Signed with Patriots (2-year, $11M)
8. Jason Worilds — Retired from football.
9. Brandon Graham — Re-signed by Eagles (4-year, $26M)
10. Derrick Morgan — Re-signed with Titans (4-year, $27M)
11. Adrian Clayborn — Re-signed with Bucs
12. Akeem Ayers — Signed with Rams (2-year deal)
13. Michael Johnson — Signed with Bengals (4-year, $20M)

14. George Selvie — Signed with Giants (1-year, $1.4M)
15. Brooks Reed — Signed with Falcons (5-year, $22M)

16. O'Brien Schofield — Signed with Falcons (Undisclosed)

17. Trent Cole — Signed with Colts (2-year, $16M)
18. John Abraham

19. LaMarr Woodley — Signed with Cardinals (1-year, $950K)

20. Sam Acho — Signed with Bears (1-year deal)

21. Anthony Spencer — Signed with Saints (1-year deal)
22. James Harrison — Re-signed with Steelers (2-year, $2.275M)
23. Dwight Freeney
24. Corey Wootton
25. Osi Umenyiora
26. Kroy Biermann — Re-signed with Falcons

27. Mathias Kiwanuka
28. Da'Quan Bowers
29. Shaun Phillips
30. Parys Haralson — Re-signed with Saints (1-year deal)
31. Marcus Benard

Interior Defensive Linemen
1. Ndamukong Suh — Signed with Dolphins (6-year, $114M)
2. Terrance Knighton — Signed with Redskins (1-year, $4M)

3. Dan Williams — Signed with Raiders (4-year, $25M)

4. Nick Fairley — Signed with Rams (1-year, $5M)
5. Jared Odrick — Signed with Jaguars (5-year, $42.5M)
6. Stephen Paea — Signed with Redskins (4-year, $21M)
7. C.J. Mosley

8. Vince Wilfork — Signed with Texans (2-year, $9M)
9. Henry Melton — Signed with Bucs (1-year deal)

10. Darnell Dockett — Signed with 49ers (2-year, $7.5M)

11. Cory Redding — Signed with Colts (2-year, $6M)

12. Barry Cofield
13. Letroy Guion — Re-signed with Packers (one-year, $2.75M)

14. Kevin Williams
15. Corey Peters — Re-signed with Cardinals (3-year, $10.5M)
16. B.J. Raji — Re-signed with Packers (1-year, $3.5M)
17. Kenrick Ellis — Signed with Giants (1-year, $1.65M)
18. Ahtyba Rubin — Signed with Giants (1-year, $3.1M)
19. Tom Johnson — Re-signed with Vikings (3-year, $7M)
20. Jarvis Jenkins — Signed with Bears (1-year, $825K)
21. Alan Branch — Re-signed with Patriots (2-year, $4.3M)
22. Alex Carrington — Signed with Bills (1-year deal)
23. Dwan Edwards — Re-signed with Panthers (2-year, $4M)

24. Kendall Langford — Signed with Colts (4-year, $17.2M)
25. Randy Starks — Signed with Browns (2-year, $8M)
26. Pat Sims — Signed with Bengals
27. Tommy Kelly
28. Mike Patterson

29. Ricky Jean-Francois — Signed with Redskins (3-year, $9M)

30. Chris Canty — Re-signed with Ravens (2-year, $4.65M)
31. Leger Douzable
32. Karl Klug — Re-signed with Titans (2-year deal)
33. Colin Cole — Re-signed with Panthers (1-year, $1.05M)

34. Kevin Vickerson — Signed with Jets
35. Tyson Alualu — Re-signed with Jaguars (2-year, $6M)
36. Demarcus Dobbs
37. Vance Walker — Signed with Broncos (2-year, $4M)
38. Andre Fluellen
39. Fili Moala
40. Nick Hayden — Re-signed with Cowboys (1-year deal)
41. Stephen Bowen — Signed with Jets

Inside Linebackers
1. Brandon Spikes
2. David Harris — Re-signed with Jets (3-year, $21.5M)

3. Rolando McClain — Re-signed with Cowboys (1-year, $3M deal)
4. Mason Foster — Signed with Bears (1-year, $825K)

5. Nate Irving — Signed with Colts (3-year, $9.25M)
6. Rey Maualuga — Re-signed with Bengals (3-year, $15M)

7. Curtis Lofton — Signed with Raiders (3-year, $18M)

8. Arthur Moats — Re-signed with Steelers (3-year, $7.5M)
9. Jamari Lattimore — Signed with Jets

10. A.J. Hawk — Signed with Bengals (2-year deal)

11. Joe Mays — Signed with Jets (1-year, $950K)

12. Colin McCarthy

13. Steven Johnson — Re-signed with Broncos (1-year deal)

14. Brad Jones — Signed with Eagles (2-year, $2.9M)

15. Kelvin Sheppard — Re-signed with Dolphins

16. Dane Fletcher
17. Darryl Sharpton

18. Mark Herzlich — Re-signed with Giants (2-year, $2.6M)
19. Desmond Bishop — Re-signed with 49ers (1-year deal)
20. Jasper Brinkley — Signed with Cowboys (2-year deal)
21. Josh Bynes — Signed with Lions (2-year, $1.81M)

22. Josh Mauga — Re-signed by Chiefs (3-year, $8M)

4-3 Outside Linebackers
1. Sean Weatherspoon — Signed with Cardinals (1-year, $4M)
2. Malcolm Smith — Signed with Raiders (2-year, $7M)
3. Justin Durant — Signed with Falcons (3-year, $10.8M)

4. Bruce Carter — Signed with Bucs (4-year, $20.5M)
5. Jonathan Casillas — Signed with Giants (3-year, $10.5M)

6. Lance Briggs
7. Jacquian Williams
8. Spencer Paysinger — Signed with Dolphins (1-year deal)

9. Philip Wheeler — Signed with 49ers (1-year deal)

10. Keith Rivers — Signed with Cowboys (1-year, $825K)
11. Ashlee Palmer
12. J.T. Thomas — Signed with Giants (3-year, $12M)
13. Geno Hayes
14. Ramon Humber — Re-signed with Saints (2-year, $2.085M)
15. Chase Blackburn
16. Chris White — Re-signed with Patriots (1-year, $1.045M)

Cornerbacks

1. Darrelle Revis — Signed with Jets (5-years, $70M)
2. Byron Maxwell — Signed with Eagles (6-years, $63M)
3. Brandon Flowers — Re-signed with Chargers (4-year, $36M)
4. Tramon Williams — Signed with Browns (3-year, $21M)
5. Antonio Cromartie — Signed with Jets (4-year, $32M)
6. Buster Skrine — Signed with Jets (4-year, $25M)
7. Kareem Jackson — Re-signed with Texans (4-year, $34M)

8. Davon House — Signed with Jags (4-year $25M)
9. Chris Culliver — Signed with Redskins (4-year, $32M)

10. Perrish Cox — Signed with Titans (3-year, $15M)

11. Patrick Robinson — Signed with Chargers (1-year, $2M)
12. Cary Williams — Signed with Seahawks (3-year, $18M)
13. Jimmy Wilson — Signed with Chargers (2-year, $4.85M)

14. Brandon Browner — Signed with Saints (3-year, $15M)

15. Rashean Mathis — Re-signed with Lions (2-year, $3.5M)
16. Alan Ball — Signed with Bears (1-year deal)
17. Walter Thurmond III — Signed with Eagles (1-year, $3.25M)
18. Terence Newman — Signed with Vikings (1-year, $2.5M)
19. Charles Tillman — Signed with Panthers (1-year deal)
20. Tarell Brown
21. Brice McCain — Signed with Dolphins (2-year, $5.5M)
22. Darius Butler — Re-signed with Colts (2-year, $5M)
23. Shareece Wright — Signed with 49ers (1-year, $3M)

24. Cortland Finnegan — Retired from football.

25. Sterling Moore — Signed with Bucs
26. Bradley Fletcher — Signed with Patriots (1-year, $2.5M)
27. Kyle Wilson — Signed with Saints (1-year, $950K)
28. Josh Wilson — Signed with Lions (1-year deal)
29. Robert McClain — Signed with Patriots (1-year, $1.24M)

30. Will Blackmon — Signed with Seahawks (1-year, $950k)
31. Chris Cook — Re-signed with 49ers (1-year deal)
32. Ike Taylor — Retired from football.
33. Brandon Harris — Re-signed with Titans (1-year deal)
34. Carlos Rogers
35. Mike Jenkins — Re-signed with Bucs (1-year deal)
36. Anthony Levine — Re-signed with Ravens (2-year, $2.4M)
37. Antoine Cason
38. E.J. Biggers
39. Chykie Brown — Re-signed with Giants (1-year, $2M)

Safeties
1. Devin McCourty — Re-signed with Patriots (5-year, $47.5M)
2. Rahim Moore — Signed with Texans (3-year, $12M)

3. Tyvon Branch — Signed with Chiefs (1-year, $2M)
4. Antrel Rolle — Signed with Bears (3-year, $11.5M)
5. Louis Delmas — Re-signed with Dolphins (1-year, $3.5M)
6. Marcus Gilchrist — Signed with Jets (4-year deal)
7. Stevie Brown — Signed with Texans (1-year, $825K)
8. Dawan Landry
9. Nate Allen — Signed with Raiders
10. Da'Norris Searcy — Signed with Titans (4-year, $24M)
11. Mike Adams — Re-signed with Colts (2-year deal)

12. LaRon Landry
13. Darian Stewart — Signed with Broncos (2-year deal)
14. Ron Parker — Re-signed with Chiefs (5-year, $30M)

15. Bernard Pollard
16. Danieal Manning
17. Jeron Johnson — Signed with Redskins (2-year, $4M)
18. George Wilson
19. Dwight Lowery — Signed with Colts (1-year, $950K)
20. Major Wright — Re-signed with Bucs (2-year, $4.5M)
21. Brandon Meriweather
22. Kendrick Lewis — Signed with Texas (3-year deal)
23. DaShon Goldson
24. Kurt Coleman — Signed with Panthers (2-year, $2.8M)
25. Chris Conte — Signed with Bucs (1-year, $1.5M)

26. Usama Young
27. Jeromy Miles
28. C.J. Spillman
29. Quintin Demps
30. Sergio Brown — Expected to sign with Jags
31. Thomas DeCoud
32. Taylor Mays — Signed with Vikings (1-year deal)

Kickers
1. Stephen Gostkowski — Franchise Tagged by Patriots
2. Matt Bryant — Re-signed with Falcons (3-year, $8.5M)
3. Matt Prater — Re-signed with Lions (3-year, $9M)
4. Mike Nugent — Re-signed with Bengals (2-year, $3.5M)
5. Shayne Graham — Re-signed with Saints (1-year, $980K)
6. Ryan Succop — Re-signed with Titans (3-year deal)
7. Jay Feely
8. Billy Cundiff

Punters
1. Brett Kern — Re-signed with Titans (5-year, $15M)
2. Mat McBriar

J302: Free Agency Live Blog

2015-03-09T21:05:00.001-05:00

It's Christmas morning for me. As we turn a new leaf and enter the 2015 league year on Tuesday afternoon, the bidding war is officially legal, under NFL rules, to begin. More players will be cut in the morning as teams wade their way into as much salary cap as possible to make room for signings on Tuesday.

At 4:00 p.m. ET, it becomes an all-out bidding war, and multiple teams will finalize deals with guys they have had their eyes on since falling short of last year's playoffs. Other plays will decide between a multitude of offers to decide where they will play for the foreseeable future. This if NFL free agency, and it's the quite possibly the most exciting day of the NFL offseason. I'll be live-blogging every move, giving some analysis and as many details on the deal as I can, below in sequential order.

———

Friday, March 20 — Day Eleven

11:26 AM EST — Giants sign DE George Selvie

12:50 PM EST — Colts sign LB Nate Irving

2:10 PM EST — Dolphins re-sign QB Matt Moore, S Louis Delmas, RB LaMichael James

2:21 PM EST — Saints re-sign OT Bryce Harris

6:02 PM EST — Jets sign defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson

———

Thursday, March 19 — Day Ten

10:44 AM EST — Bengals re-sign DT Devon Still

11:47 AM EST — Chargers sign CB Patrick Robinson to one-year deal

12:20 PM EST — Dolphins won't match offer for Charles Clay, he's signing with Bills

2:33 PM EST — Bucs sign defensive back Sterling Moore

2:42 PM EST — Browns sign recently cut wide receiver Dwayne Bowe

4:28 PM EST — Former basketball player, OT Demarco Cox, signs with Colts

4:36 PM EST — Falcons sign tight ends Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki

5:08 PM EST — Browns re-sign TE Dante Rosario

5:10 PM EST — Jags claim RB Bernard Pierce on waivers

5:20 PM EST — Vikings, RB DuJuan Harris agree to one-year deal

6:07 PM EST — LB Reggie Walker signs with Broncos

6:49 PM EST — Dolphins re-sign C J.D. Walton

7:12 PM EST — Browns lose DT Ahtyba Rubin, signing 1-year deal with Seahawks

8:41 PM EST — Cowboys re-sign DT Nick Hayden

———

Wednesday, March 18 — Day Nine

11:26 AM EST — Patriots sign CB Bradley Fletcher

12:10 PM EST — Ravens re-sign DL Chris Canty on two-year deal

1:42 PM EST — Veteran CB Robert McClain announces he's signing with Super Bowl champs

2:01 PM EST — Jets sign versatile DL-man Kenrick Ellis

2:16 PM EST — Detroit re-signs solid veteran CB Rashean Mathis

3:42 PM EST — Bills officially sign WR Percy Harvin

3:44 PM EST — Cowboys ink DE Greg Hardy to incentive-laden deal

4:22 PM EST — Ravens re-sign DE Lawrence Guy

5:08 PM EST — Rams signing OL Garrett Reynolds

5:17 PM EST — Falcons re-signed DE Kroy Biermann

8:36 PM EST — Chargers sign DT Mitch Unrein to two-year deal

10:46 PM EST — Giants re-signing TE Daniel Fells

———

Tuesday, March 17 — Day Eight

8:36 AM EST — Stevie Johnson chooses to sign with Chargers

10:12 AM EST — Redskins re-sign QB Colt McCoy

10:41 AM EST — Raiders sign RB Trent Richardson

3:10 PM EST — Patriots sign former Saints RB Travaris Cadet

7:21 PM EST — The Bills signed Charles Clay to a five-year, $38 million offer sheet

———

Monday, March 16 — Day Seven

The NFL decided to take a day off on Sunday, apparently. There was little to no news, so I decided to skip ahead to Monday.

9:07 AM EST — The Panthers sign S Kurt Coleman

10:42 AM EST — Legion of Boom reserve Jeron Johnson signs with Washington

12:16 PM EST — Browns sign DT Randy Starks

2:35 PM EST — Eagles workout QB Tim Tebow

2:47 PM EST — Browns take top market off the board in Tramon Williams

2:47 PM EST — Texas sign WR Cecil Shorts III as Johnson replacement

3:26 PM EST — Texans ink DT Vince Wilfork

4:48 PM EST – Raiders released QB Matt Schaub

———

Saturday, March 14 — Day Five

1:17 PM EST — The Chiefs are re-signing S Ron Parker

2:33 PM EST — The 49ers agreed to terms with OL Erik Pears

4:31 PM EST — CB Perrish Cox heading to Titans

6:43 PM EST — CB Shareece Wright signed with 49ers

7:29 PM EST — Ravens ink Kendrick Lewis to three-year deal

7:39 PM EST — Patriots bring back DL Alan Branch on two-year deal

8:04 PM EST — 49ers signing RB Reggie Bush

8:39 PM EST — 49ers re-sign CB Chris Cook to one-year deal

8:55 PM EST — Vikings cut WR Greg Jennings

———

Friday, March 13 — Day Four

8:01 AM EST — Titans pickup passrusher Derrick Morgan on four-year deal

9:08 AM EST — Redskins steal cornerback CB Chris Culliver from 49ers

9:59 AM EST — Titans keep trend, re-sign K Ryan Succop

10:40 AM EST — Cowboys sign RB Darren McFadden

12:22 PM EST — DT Nick Fairley signs incentive-laden deal with Rams

12:33 PM EST — Anthony Fasano reaches deal with Titans

4:19 PM EST — RB DeAngelo Williams signs with Steelers

6:45 PM EST — Chiefs announce signings of WR Jason Avant, TE Richard Gordon, S Kelcie McCray

7:07 PM EST — Dolphins trade WR Mike Wallace for fifth-round pick

8:09 PM EST — Raiders announce signing of QB Christian Ponder

9:40 PM EST — WR Kenny Britt re-signed with Rams

11:46 PM EST — CB Jimmy Wilson signed two-year deal

———

Thursday, March 12 — Day Three

9:04 AM EST — Eagles and RB Ryan Mathews have not officially inked deal
Mathews wants a job as a starting back, but the Eagles are having RB DeMarco Murray in for a visit today. Naturally, he's not ready to sign yet. If Murray doesn't land here, I still expect Mathews to. If not, Mathews will be moving on.

UPDATE: Mathews is moving on, won't sign with the Eagles.
UPDATE UPDATE: The NFL is crazy, and Mathews is signing with the Eagles.

9:58 AM EST — Bills re-sign WR Marcus Easley. A four-year deal worth $7 million
This is strictly a special teams signing. He's only caught two passes in his three-year career.

10:32 AM EST — Bills sign multi-tool QB Tyrod Taylor
Any fantasy football head would love to see Taylor test E.J. Manuel and Matt Cassel for the starting job. The multi-tool QB has sat on the bench behind Joe Flacco for his entire NFL career. With LeSean McCoy at RB, the field could open up for Taylor and the offense could be very quickly.

10:49 AM EST — Bucs announce signings of safety Chris Conte, DT Henry Melton

11:20 AM EST — Jaguars release defensive lineman Red Bryant

10:40 AM EST — Vikings announce the re-signings of long snapper Cullen Loeffler and guard Joe Berger. Both are the type of signings that go unwarranted and unnoticed in the free agency period, but they're the moved that help shore up teams. Two solid signings here.

12:27 PM EST — DeMarco Murray will sign with the Eagles
What a turn of events. Murray was offered around $5 million per year by the Cowboys, who wouldn't budge. Murray decided to visit the Eagles, with the Cowboys as the only other real team in contention, and now are going to sign him. Details on the deal will come ASAP, but expect a four-year deal worth around $6 million per year — a number the Cowboys won't match. This means the Cowboys are on the look for a RB, and the Eagles will likely not be signing RB Ryan Mathews.

UPDATE: Murray signs 5-year, $42 million deal with the Eagles.
This is pretty surprising. Murray is tabbed to make $8.4 million/year with the Eagles, and will get $21 million guaranteed. That's more than $3 million/year than the Cowboys were reportedly offering. Of course, signing a 27-year-old running back who carried the ball almost 500 times last year to a five-year deal is very risky, but Murray is what the Eagles are looking for. By trading LeSean McCoy, the Eagles proved they weren't looking for an agile runner, but rather a get up the field type of guy, and Murray is that guy. Murray will get a chance to show the Cowboys why they should have re-signed him twice a year.

1:21 PM EST — Saints trade OG Ben Grubbs for 5th-round pick
Grubbs signed a five-year deal in 2012. He's scheduled to make $9.6 million this year, the fourth year of his deal, so the Chiefs may try to bring that number down, as they're not great on cap. However, Grubbs is well worth the fifth-round pick and will likely start at LG. Though his career is winding down, he hasn't missed a game in three years and has been a solid starter in the NFL since 2007. This is a really, really good move by the Chiefs. It could also open the door for Max Unger to start at RG for the Saints, which is where he started his career before moving to center

1:31 PM EST — Forsett re-signs with the Ravens

2:56 PM EST — Jets sign Antonio Cromartie, re-united with Revis

3:01 PM EST — Saints ink Brandon Browner to three-year deal

3:15 PM EST — Former Broncos S Rahim Moore signs with the Texans

4:40 PM EST — Ryan Mathews still signing with the Eagles

5:09 PM EST — Colts officially waive RB Trent Richardson

5:13 PM EST — The Broncos signed defensive lineman Vance Walker

5:49 PM EST — The Falcons agreed to terms with O'Bryan Schofield

5:56 PM EST — Jordan Cameron re-signs with Browns on two-year deal

6:37 PM EST — Chiefs sign OG Paul Fanaika
It's a three-year, $8.1 million deal. The Chiefs agreed to the terms on Wednesday, but the deal became final on Friday. With Grubbs and Fanaika newly acquired, it leaves a big question mark for 25-year-old Jeff Allen who missed most of 2015 with an elbow injury. The Chiefs offensive line was really, really bad last year, so it's good to see them get some pieces they can rely on. They have the potential to have a very good offense in 2015.

7:06 PM EST — Terrance Knighton signs 1-year deal with Redskins

8:05 PM EST — Rams sign LB Akeem Ayers

8:41 PM EST — Lions get defensive line depth, sign Tyrunn Walker

11:02 PM EST — Cowboys, LB Jasper Brinkley ink deal

11:04 PM EST — Jets, S Marcus Gilchrist finalize four-year deal

———

Wednesday, March 11 — Day Two

9:19 AM EST — We're up and at it again. The Dolphins will release DT Randy Starks today, clearing some more room for DT Ndamukong Suh, who still hasn't officially signed with the team. The move saves teh Dolphins $5 million.

10:09 AM EST — Jaguars make signing of tight end Julius Thomas official
Thomas will make $46 million over five years, with $24 million guaranteed. The Raiders, who were in the running for Thomas, would have had to pay around $30 million to Thomas, according to one report, because of income tax, which Thomas won't have to pay them in Jacksonville. Thomas will become a big part of the Jags offense, but — especially if they land another running back — his fantasy value is going to plummet with Blake Bortles throwing him the ball. Bortles is no Peyton Manning. I'd expect somewhere around 65 catches, 800 yards, and 4-5 touchdowns.

10:41 AM EST — Raiders signing both DT Dan Williams and LB Curtis Lofton
Both are on visits with the team today and both are going to get paid in a big way by Oakland, which is just asking players if they can give their money away. Williams signing likely takes the Raiders out of the Terrance Knighton pool, and he's visiting the Redskins today. Knighton is expected to sign with an "upset" team of sorts, and not the initially interested Broncos, Raiders, or Bears. Williams played in a two-down role last year and was one of the best run-stoppers in the league, but doesn't add much in terms of pass rush. Lofton is coming off his worst year of his career with the Saints, which contributed to his release, but he might be able to get back to his old ways in a system which favors his play-style.

10:43 AM EST — Bengals and OL Clint Boling agreed to five-year deal worth $26 million
Boling has been a main part of the Bengals offensive line, starting 44 games over the last three years, so this comes as no surprise. He's huge for the interior line and inside run game, and would have made similar numbers on the open market, with the Vikings among the teams already interested. Instead, he's back in Cleveland, blocking for... whoever the hell is back there in Week 1.

10:45 AM EST — Jaguars announce signing of DE Jared Odrick
The Jaguars are trying to spending all of their cap, and doing it fast. Odrick is signing a deal worth $7 million a year including $22 million in guaranteed money, according to reports He'll play the three-tech in the Jaguars' 3-4 system. Though the Jaguars may have paid a bit extra to bring Odrick into town, it's a very good signing, one that shouldn't be slept on.

10:52 AM ET — Jaguars make signing of OT Jeremy Parnell official
We've known for a few days the Parnell, the former Cowboy, had agreed to a five-year, $32 million deal in Jacksonville. Parnell came into Dallas still trying to find his position before settling in as a swing tackle. At $6 million a year, it's overpaying, without a doubt, but the Jaguars likely hope he can be an every-down starting tackle for them.

10:56 AM ET — Chiefs finalize deal with WR Jeremy Maclin
Maclin is set to make $55 million over five years, including $22.5 million guaranteed money. The Chiefs just need to clear some space for that deal now. They'll likely release Bowe ($5.5M) and restructure Alex's Smith bonuses to make room. Maclin becomes the sixth-highest paid receiver in the NFL with the deal, and he gives Smith a top receiver to play with. Hopefully, it'll make him look like more than an average quarterback, but you can't expect too much from Alex Smith.

11:57 AM ET — Ryan Fitzpatrick being traded to Jets
Once the Texans finalized their deal with Brian Hoyer, they closed the deal with the Jets. New York got a conditional late-round pick in exchange for their QB, who they deemed not as worth as the Ryan Mallett/Hoyer combo. Fitzpatrick will push Geno Smith for the starting job, even having the chance to take it.

12:00 PM ET — Frank Gore, Colts make signing official
Gore was going to sign with the Eagles, but made the switch to the Colts after second-guessing his decision. He got a three-year, $12 million deal with $8.5 million in first two years, $1 million more than in the Eagles deal. He'll start for the team, with Dan "Boom" Herron getting in the mix as well.

12:35 PM ET — Bears announce deal with McPhee
It's reportedly a five-year, $38.75 million agreement. McPhee will play outside linebacker in the Bears' 3-4 system after placing as PFF's No. 2 3-4 OLB in last year's PFF grades, even as a two-down guy for the team. The Bears defense is notoriously awful, and but now they'll have a presence in the pass-rush with a guy who notched 7.5 sacks last year. This is one of the better signings of free agency.

12:46 PM ET — Cardinals announce deals with OG Mike Iupati, LB Sean Weatherspoon, re-sign DE Corey Peters
Iupati's deal with the Cowboys is worth $40 million over five years. He was the top guard on the market, and he's essentially a no-risk signing; they know exactly what they're getting. Weatherspoon took a one-year "prove it deal". He'll be a free agent again next year, and has the chance to sign a long-term contract next season if he stays healthy and lives up to his potential. He should start at inside linebacker for the team, and says his Achilles injury from last season is fully healed. Finally is DE Corey Peters, who will replace Darnell Dockett in the starting lineup, and signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal. He's getting $5.75 million guaranteed, and can earn $750k in incentives.

1:59 PM ET — Eagles sign RB Ryan Mathews to 3-year deal
Three-year, $11.5 million deal with the former Chargers back. He'll be Chip Kelly's starter and two-down back unless they manager to land ultimate free agent prize (at this point) DeMarco Murray. Mathews is the perfect fit for this Chip Kelly offense, but he wasn't Kelly's first priority, as they took swings at both Mark Ingram and Frank Gore before moving onto Mathews.

2:15 PM ET — Cardinals sign Colts free agent DE Cory Redding
Two-year, $6 million deal with $5.75 million guaranteed. He'll take the spot the team vacated when they released DE Darnell Dockett. He became expendable for the Colts when they signed Kendall Langford.

2:53 PM ET — CB Brice McCain signs two-year deal with Dolphins
After Cortland Finnegan was a flop last year, the team knew it had to make some moves at CB. The Dolphins probably aren't done yet, but getting McCain on a 2-year, $5.5 million deal is a start. He should get plenty of run as a slot corner.

4:01 PM ET — Dolphins announce signing of DT Ndamukong Suh
Suh made so many dollars with this deal that is finally finished. It's a six-year deal worth $114 million, a number Detroit wasn't prepared to match. The deal includes $60 million guaranteed. Suh chose the money over everything else, and he absolutely broke the bank.

4:07 PM ET — Colts sign future Hall of Fame WR Andre Johnson

5:07 PM ET — OLB Bruce Carter is signing with the Bucs
Carter got way too much money at 4-years, $20.5 million, but beside that, he's not a bad signing. He's started to come into his own in the Cowboys scheme over the last few years. The Bucs are likely paying up for the 27-year-old's potential, and the last good fit for their open SAM linebacker position.

5:11 PM ET — Falcons announce WR Leonard Hankerson has signed
It's a one-year, $1 million deal. It's a good, low-risk deal, as Hankerson hasn't even been able to stay on the field in past years. But we all know he has potential with a 4.4 40-yard-dash time and a 6'2" build. He'll be fantasy relevant when Julio Jones or Roddy White are sidelined.

6:50 PM ET — Patriots sign DE Jabaal Sheard
Great signing, maybe the best of the day. It's a two-year, $11 million deal with only $5.5 million for the defensive end. Sheard is still very raw at just 23-years-old, but he's shown flashes of being a very good pass-rusher, but he didn't fit in as a stand-up linebacker in the Browns system. Opposite Chandler Jones, the possibilities are endless for this front line, and Sheard get to a defense which he'll feel more comfortable in. Watch out for Sheard in 2015.

7:45 PM ET — Bucs plan to release S Dashon Goldson
The teams is finalizing a deal for safety Chris Conte. When that's done, they'll release Goldson, the former 2013 signing from the 49ers. He will walk with $4 million, but the Bucs will also clear $4 million, helping them sign Chris Conte. Goldson has been one of the worst corners in the league since being signed by the Bucs, so this comes as no surprise. Goldson will probably parlay his success into another short contract, but his career doesn't have a lot left at 31 years old.

10:44 PM EST — Bears sign safety Antrel Rolle
It's a three-year deal for Rolle. Worth $11.25 million with $5 million guaranteed. He won the Super Bowl with the Giants a few years ago, but he's declined since and is now at 32 years old. This is an uninspiring signing.

———

Tuesday, March 10 — Day One

9:27 AM EST — Jets will release Percy Harvin on Tuesday
We all knew this one was coming. The Jets traded a late-round pick for Harvin to the Seahawks last year, as Seattle pushed the big cap number onto the Jets, and Harvin failed to pay up. At 26-years-old, Harvin will be re-signed, but he's never truly been productive during his NFL career. The Patriots have reportedly had interest.

10:32 AM EST — Chiefs sign Tyvon Branch
The deal is for one-year, $2 million, which is a heck of a deal for Kansas City. Branch has always been an extremely capable strong safety, he just hasn't been able to stay healthy. Branch's salary is largely incentive-based, with only $870k of it coming in the form of salary, and another $200k in bonus money. The rest is all incentives, based on INTs, Pro Bowl, and playtime.

11:19 AM EST — Bengals OT Eric Winston tweets that he's re-signed

Winston's deal was later confirmed to be a one-year deal. He likely won't start, but will be used as a swing tackle in the Bengals system.

11:23 AM EST — Colts announce they agreed to terms to re-sign OT Joe Reitz

Reitz was the 12th OT on my rankings. He got a 3-year, $9 million deal worth up to around $10 million, according to NFL Network. He's a good signing as a versatile OL-man who can play both the tackle and the guard positions. He started at RT down the stretch last season, including all three playoff games.

11:27 AM EST — Bilal Powell agrees to terms to re-sign with the Jets

For some reason, Powell was coveted by a few teams, just because he's a multi-faceted back. But, regardless, he'll be back in gang green. He's a very average runner through his career who has no real chance to win the starting job. The deal is for one-year.

12:47 PM EST — Browns officially announce Brian Hartline signing

Hartline was cut by the Dolphins last week, and immediately garnered attention from about half a dozen teams. He took multiple visits, but being from Ohio, he decided and decided to go back home. Hartline might end up starting, just because this receiving corps is so horrific and Josh Gordon won't play (in all likelihood) in 2015. It's an average signing for an average team at 2-years, $6 million for a slot guy.

12:59 PM EST — Titans, Harry Douglas agree to deal, officially
Bad teams make unimportant signings. This one is Harry Douglas, who, somehow landed a three-year deal with the team. The 30-year-old will likely slide into the slot for the Titans, but won't make much of an impact, as the team doesn't have a QB right now. He'll be the guy replacing Nate Washington in three-wide sets.

1:08 PM EST — Panthers re-sign defensive tackle Dwan Edwards
Edwards is just depth. At 34 years old, he will only be thrown into a starting role if there is an injury on the Panthers front-line. It's a two-year deal for Edwards and the Panthers.

1:58 PM EST — Packers OT Bryan Bulaga re-signs with Packers
We knew the Packers were still the front-runners for the Bulaga, and they finally locked down the top free agent tackle. ProFootballFocus graded Bulaga as the third-best right tackle in the NFL last season, and he got paid like it. The terms: 5-year, $35 million, likely less than he would have commanded on the free agent market. It's a big keep for the Packers, who have one of the top offensive lines in the league protecting an elite QB. He'll be 31 when he hits the open market again.

2:02 PM EST — Cardinals signing OLB LaMarr Woodley to one-year deal
The Raiders cut the 30-year-old last week after he missed 10 games in 2014 with a torn biceps muscle, but he was never going to have trouble finding another job on the open market. He ended up getting a deal worth $870k. It's a very good veteran signing of a player who is just over the hump, but can still do his job well. He'll play outside linebacker in Arians' 3-4, and shouldn't have a problem making the roster.

2:47 PM EST — Ed Dickson will re-sign with Panthers
This was the last piece to the Panthers puzzle in terms of re-signing their own guys which they wanted to re-sign. It's a three-year deal for the 27-year-old. He won't start, as the team already has Greg Olsen, an elite tight end option, but he will add solid depth behind Olsen, which is what he's always done during his career.

2:52 PM EST — Kelvin Sheppard re-signed by Dolphins
This has been in the fold for the Dolphins for some time after they released both Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler were released. Sheppard outplayed Ellerbe when Ellerbe went down with an injury last year (which is more of a testament to how bad Ellerbe was, not how good Sheppard was). Now Sheppard has a job, and Ellerbe doesn't. He won't do much besides serve as depth, as Sheppard has been unproductive as a starting outside linebacker.

3:10 PM EST — Broncos re-sign TE Virgil Green
It's a three-year deal. He was coveted by multiple other teams, including the Bears, but Green will stay in Denver for another year and remain a blocking tight end.

3:49 PM EST — Jimmy Graham headed to Seahawks, Max Unger to join Saints
Minutes after it was reported that Graham was on the trade block, the Seahawks and Saints agreed to a blockbuster deal to send Graham to the Seahawks. The move will free up a big chunk of change for the Saints, who likely made the move because they were strapped for cap. The Saints get their starting center and a first-round pick, while the Seahawks get a top weapon for Russell Wilson, which he's never before had. The Seahawks got a fourth-round pick in addition to Unger.

3:56 PM EST — Lions acquire DT Haloti Ngata in trade with Baltimore
We don't have a lot of details here. Just days ago, Ngata and his $16 million cap number was a cut candidate for Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens. Instead, he'll be joining the Lions. We're not sure if he's going to be restructuring his deal, only that he will be joining the Lions, as the team announced. Peter King reported that compensation for Ngata will be a fourth and fifth-round pick, on top of his massive salary. I'll bring more on this when we have it, but the Lions have their "replacement" for Suh.

3:58 PM EST — Rams getting Nick Foles, trading away Sam Bradford
We knew there was shakiness between Foles and the Eagles, but the Rams never strayed from their confidence on Sam Bradford. It could have been the team just boosting his trade value, who knows. According to reports, Chip Kelly really, really wanted Sam Bradford and went after him hard. The Eagles will send a second-round pick in 2016 along with Foles to the Rams for Bradford, a fourth- and fifth-round pick. The "winner" of this trade ultimately boils down to Bradford's small potential to become a franchise type of QB, and whether the Eagles can harvest that potential.

4:00 PM EST — HAPPY NEW LEAGUE YEAR

4:00 PM EST — The Packers didn't tender WR Jarrett Boykin. He's an unrestricted free agent.

4:00 PM EST — The Patriots didn't pick-up the contract option of cornerback Brandon Browner. He'll test the free agent market, but still could return to the team. Add that to Darrelle Revis hitting free agency, and it's a nice little market.

4:07 PM EST — The Saints are listening to offers for QB Drew Brees.
They might not be done making moves, but this rumor doesn't have a ton of substance.

4:10 PM EST — The Jets are signing CB Buster Skrine.

4:17 PM EST — The Raiders are signing TE Lee Smith, formerly of the Bills.
The deal is worth $9 million over 3 years.

4:17 PM EST — Owen Daniels, Broncos agree to three-year deal

4:18 PM EST — WR Eddie Royal will sign with the Bears.

4:20 PM EST — The Vikings have signed OL Joe Berger to a two-year deal.

4:24 PM EST — RB DeMarco Murray will sign with the Jaguars, save for a late push from another team. Negotiations are in the final stages. I expect him to be a Jaguar by the end of the day.

4:26 PM EST — Free agent quarterback Jake Locker is retiring from football. He was the No. 8 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. "I no longer have that burning desire necessary to play the game for a living," Locker said in a statement.

4:35 PM EST — Cowboys free agent WR Dwayne Harris has signed with the NFC East-rival Giants on a five-year, $17.5 million deal. (Source)

4:41 PM EST — Ravens free agent WR Torrey Smith has signed a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Schefter later reported that it's a 5-year, $40 million deal including $22 million guaranteed.

4:53 PM EST — The Bills have signed fullback Jerome Felton. Felton was the top FB on the market. (Source)

4:55 PM EST — The Titans finalized their deal with safety Da'Norris Searcy. It's a four-year deal worth $24 million, which was reported earlier in the day.

5:00 PM EST — The Eagles officially traded RB LeSean McCoy to the Bills for LB Kiko Alonso. As far as we know, it was a straight up player for player trade.

5:01 PM EST — Running back Shane Vereen and the Giants agreed to a deal worth $12.35 million over three years. (Source)

5:18 PM EST — The Chicago Bears announced that they traded away WR Brandon Marshall and a 7th-round pick to the New York Jets for a 7th-round pick. The deal is final as Marshall has passed his physical.

5:28 PM EST — The Jets officially released WR Percy Harvin. As I mentioned above, the Patriots are interested in his services.

5:32 PM EST — The Bucs released OT Anthony Collins after just one year with the team. He graded out at 63rd out of 84 eligible offensive tackle on ProFootballFocus in 2014, and he didn't even play int he final four games of the season. The Bucs only guaranteed Collins $9 million so that's all the team paid him (which includes $3 million of his 2015 salary), plus his signing bonus. Demar Dotson will probably take Collins spot in 2015.

5:34 PM EST — The Bengals have signed linebacker A.J. Hawk. They also re-signed LB Rey Maualuga earlier this offseason, so they're stacked at the ILB position. The deal with Hawk is a two-year deal.

5:44 PM EST — The Texans traded one of their three quarterbacks, Case Keenum, to the Rams for a seventh-round pick in 2016. Keenum is no more than a backup, and will serve behind new Rams QB Nick Foles. (Source)

5:45 PM EST — The Bills jumped into the race for CB Darrelle Revis. They have the money to sign him, so it wouldn't be crazy. Jets and Patriots are still the top two in the race though. (Source)

6:45 PM EST — Things have slowed considerably, but the Falcons did make some moves. The team signed OLB Brooks Reed, ILB Justin Durant, OL Mike Person, and re-signed RB Antone Smith. Reed has been mostly a bust in his NFL, never logging more than six sacks in a single season and struggling to stay healthy. Justin Durant came on for the Cowboys last year and was solid until going on I.R. with a biceps tear. Durant is the top signing of this group, as he's able to do a lot of things on defense, but the 29-year-old will have to stay healthy to contribute.

7:05 PM EST — Free agent defensive tackle Kendall Langford signed with the Colts. The main thing he add is a versatility to play multiple positions as a reserve. He has the chance to start at the five-technique for the Colts, where he has thrived in his career. The Rams deferred to re-sign Langford as he just doesn't fit in their 4-3 system, so the 3-4 should fit him well.

7:06 PM EST — The deal to send Matt Cassel to the Bills has been finalized as Cassel passed his physical on Tuesday evening. Cassel will be E.J. Manuel's mentor/competition in Buffalo.

7:14 PM EST — The Eagles and CB Byron Maxwell finalized a six-year deal. The former member of the Legion of Boom in Seattle signed a deal for just over $10 million per year ($63 million total) with $25 million guaranteed. This deal was reportedly agreed to two days ago.

8:51 PM EST — The Jets are signing CB Darrelle Revis. Revis is going to break the bank again. He's expected to get north of $40 million over this contract, according to Schefter. The Jets now signed the top and the 6th free agent corners in my free agency rankings. I'll bring more details as they come. UPDATE: Below is the deal Revis got with the Jets. Likely his last contract in the NFL, if he lasts all five years.

Darrelle Revis got a 5 year, $70 million deal with $39 million guaranteed from Jets. $33 million in first 2 years, per source. #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) March 11, 2015

9:15 PM EST — The Raiders have signed RB Roy Helu to a two-year, $4 million deal. I like Helu, a lot, and this is a fantastic price. But if this takes the Raiders out of the DeMarco Murray sweepstakes, which have opened up now that the Eagles and Raiders are interested, then they're making a mistake.

11:25 PM EST — Forgot to leave this here earlier: Patriots signed WR Brandon Gibson to a one-year, $825,000 deal. Gibson is the most Belichickian wide receiver of all-time.

12:08 AM EST — The perfect signing to close out the day: 49ers and QB Blaine Gabbert ink a two-year deal to keep him in San Francisco. He's gonna get real good at holding the clipboard for Colin Kaepernick.

12:34 AM EST — Okay, we weren't closing out the day with Gabbert. According to his agent, Steelers free agent linebacker Jason Worilds is retiring from the NFL. Another early retirement? At 27 years old? Damn. That's extremely sad to see, but it's good to see when guys know how to walk away when they think it's time. Worilds was a lock to make $7-$8 million per year, and over $14 million guaranteed. That's a lot of money to walk away from, but he's found a new career path, reportedly, and has had a "spiritual awakening".

J302: No Offseason - March

2015-03-06T18:30:00.004-06:00

Here's what happened during the NFL offseason in February. Now onto March, where it'll start to get a bit more busy. Players must be franchise tagged by March 2, and March 10 is the first day for teams to sign free agents. Mix that with more draft talk, and teams continuing to make moves to clear up cap space, and March, specifically the beginning of the month, will be the busiest month of the offseason.

I was planning on keeping up with what want down when free agency starts on March 10 in some type of short form, but Rotoworld already does that for us This list will be a handy tool come March 10.

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Headline: Broncos tag Demaryius Thomas, but pressure to sign him remains

Date: March 2, 2015

Thomas wasn't ever going to get away from the Broncos, but it's unfortunate they couldn't come to a long-term deal before the franchise tag deadline. The team will keep trying to sign their top target, who would break the bank on the free agent market, but for now, they're fine with paying him the $12.8 million owed to him via the franchise tag. When/if he is re-signed, look for a deal around $13-$14 million per year, and he'll be worth every penny.

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Headline: Ravens cut Victor Hampton after DWI arrest

Date: March 2, 2015

When news was announced that Hampton had been arrested for driving while intoxicated, it was only a matter of time before the 2014 undrafted free agent was released. Hampton jumped around from practice squad to practice squad last year, wearing three different practice jerseys by year's end, but he never cracked an active roster. He was found to have a .10 percent blood-alcohol content level, just over the .08 legal limit. It's uncertain if Hampton will ever get another chance in the NFL.

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Headline: Giants Place Franchise Tag on DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Date: March 2, 2015

On the last day for franchise tenders, Pierre-Paul got one. JPP returned from injury to log 12.5 sacks in 2014 on one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and showed he can still do what he did in 2011, when he tabbed 16.5 sacks before he dealt with back issues in 2013 and 2014. The franchise tag will cost the team $14.8 million as they try to agree to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. The one-year deal gives the Giants another year to evaluate JPP, see where he is both skill and injury-wise before they decide to break the bank for him.

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Headline: Dolphins released CB Cortland Finnegan

Date: March 2, 2015

Finnegan was very, very bad last year. He started in 12 games, the ones he was healthy for, but he ranked only 74th of 108 eligible CB's on ProFootballFocus. That's not going to cut it when a team can make $5.48 million by releasing you. He'll likely get picked up somewhere else, just but name recognition, but it won't be for a lot of money. The 31-year-old is nearing the end of his NFL career.

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Headline: NFL Salary Cap Increases $10 Million to Top $143 Million

Date: March 2, 2015

The official number is $143.8 million, up form $133 million in 2014. This is about the same jump (percent-wise) that we saw last year, when the cap rose from $123 million to $133 million. Here's the deal: the NFL is making a lot (A LOT) of money, so they can budget $10 million in extra funds to pay their players a bit more. Since the CBA was signed in 2011, the cap has risen from $120 million to $148.3 million (23.5 percent). Many teams — including the Super Bowl-winning Patriots — will also have carry-over money from 2014, so they will be above the $148.3 million number under one of the NFL's newest rule. The Jaguars will have $168.4 million to spend.

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Headline: Packers don't place franchise tag on Randall Cobb

Date: March 2, 2015

This was expected all along. If the franchise tag was placed on Cobb, he would be paid $12.823 million, simply too much for a receiver who can't be a stand-alone No. 1 wide receiver. Playing on for the Packers, who haven't used one of their tags on a player since 2010, made it even less likely. Now, it's unlikely that we'll see Cobb in the green and gold again next season. He's rumored to be looking for at least $9 million on the free agent market, as a basement number, but it's likely his asking price is around $12 million, on which he'll go down to $10-11 million, which is around what Jordy Nelson received when he negotiated a new contract with the Packers. If the Packers can't pay that, another team will, as he's the best receiver available on the market after Demaryius and Dez were franchise tagged. It'll be interesting to see exactly where his price lands, but the Raiders seem like a real possibility.

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Headline: Kansas City Chiefs franchise tag Justin Houston

Date: March 2, 2015

Houston is probably the league's best pure edge rusher right now, so the $13.195 million tag he'll get is a bargain for the Chiefs, but it's important that they get a long-term deal done so they aren't in this situation again next year. If Houston puts up 20+ sacks again and then hits the free agent market, he could become one of the highest paid defenders in the entire league, looking at numbers over $16 million, at least. The tag is non-exclusive, so teams can get Houston if they have the money and two first-round picks (can be 2015/2016, or 2016/2017 after the draft), and, still, the Chiefs would have the chance to match any offer brought to Houston. But he'll more than likely be in a Chiefs uniform next year.

Headline: Andre Johnson wants off Texans

Date: March 2, 2015

This story came as a massive surprise. The Texans gave their all-time best receiver permission to seek a trade after he was told that he will have a reduced role in the offense in 2015. Johnson said the Texans brass told him he would "only probably catch 40" passes next season, according to the Houston Chronicle. If Johnson can't be traded — he likely won't — then he will be cut by the team; he won't be in a Texans jersey next season. Since he hasn't yet been traded quickly, it's been reported that Andre Johnson has already been asked to be released by the team. Getting onto the market before March 10 would likely improve his value on the market, he would get to choose where he wants to play, and the Texans would get any compensation for the unhappy receiver, which is exactly the way Johnson wants it. A release heavily favors Johnson.

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Headline: Bills decide against using franchise tag

Date: March 2, 2015

This was expected, and it relevant to the Jerry Hughes situation, who will now become the most coveted edge rusher on the free agent market after both Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston were franchise tagged. The tag would have cost the Bills $14.8 million, all guaranteed, but the Bills will instead try to get a long-term deal done. The negotiations don't seem optimistic though, as Hughes has been in talks with the Bills for multiple months, and nothing has been close to getting finalized. He's likely to land somewhere other than Buffalo, and might be this class's highest paid free agent to sign with a different team.

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Headline: Dolphins assign $7.07M transition tag to Clay
Date: March 2, 2015
It essentially locks up Clay to be a Dolphin next season. Technically, Clay will be ears to offers, but it's unlikely he gets an offer better than $7 million. If any team does complete an offer sheet, the Dolphins would get the chance to match it. If they decide not to match it, Clay will walk, and the Phins will be uncompensated for their loss. The Bills reportedly have interest, but the price tag is just too high. If they're going to pay over $7 million for a tight end, they'll go get Julius Thomas.

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Headline: DeMarco Murray on radar of Colts, Cardinals, Jags?
Date: March 2, 2015
All three of those teams listed in the headline need a RB, but it's pure speculation at this point. It's just too early to decide where Murray, who led the league in rushing and was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, could wind up. Ian Rapoport even gives the Cowboys a "slim chance" of keeping Murray, and they hope for the chance to match any offer that Murray might get out on the open market. The Colts and Jags make sense, as they have one of the top remaining cap numbers in the league, but it doesn't necessarily mean they will choose to chase RB. The Cardinals have been rumored to possibly seek a trade for Adrian Peterson, when he becomes available, so it's likely that they are seeking a running back to join their squad during free agency. A lot of teams could be out of the running just by opting to go to the draft pool, which is filled with great running back talents this year, and keeping that decision hush-hush. It'll be fun to keep an eye on Murray's decision after his huge year in 2014.

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Headline: Eagles release CB Cary Williams

Date: March 3, 2015

The Eagles saved $6.5 million by cutting Williams, so this was a no-brainer. Williams was absolutely awful last year, and simply isn't capable of covering No. 1 receivers, as seen by Dez Bryant's domination over the Eagles while Williams was on the Eagles roster. Williams will land back with some team, but he's not going to be a No. 1 corner.

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Headline: Eagles release OLB Trent Cole

Date: March 3, 2015

This is what happens when you're a fading star in the NFL. Cole and the Eagles couldn't agree on a new deal on Wednesday before the two sides decided to split ways. Cole has been out of place playing in the Eagles 3-4 over the last two years after they switched formations from a 4-3, where Cole played for most of his career. If he doesn't return to the Eagles, he'll finish his Philly career as the second franchise leader in sacks. There's already a lot of teams interested in Cole, including the Browns, Bucs, and Colts.

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Headline: Report: Eagles, Bills swapping LeSean McCoy, Kiko Alonso

Date: March 3, 2015

The Eagles were busy today. In a rare player for player deal, the Bills got their new running back, who is considered to be a top five running back in the NFL. He'll run alongside Fred Jackson in Philadelphia, while C.J. Spiller, an impending free agent, will be free to sign somewhere else. It's likely that McCoy and Jackson will eat up each other's fantasy value, though McCoy will likely carry the bulk of the load. According to reports, McCoy and the Bills are working on a restructured/new contract, and that deal is expected to be done before Tuesday when the trade become official. Alonso had a fantastic rookie year, and was regarding as one of the top inside linebackers in the league before he tore his ACL in 2014. Alonso also get a chance to reunite with his Oregon coach, Chip Kelly, who was very fond of Alonso's ability, but wasn't able to get him in the draft. Though the deal won't be done until March 10, it's expected to be a straight up, player-for-player trade.

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Headline: Avoiding Restricted Free Agency, Cowboys Sign WR Cole Beasley To 4-year Contract

Date: March 3, 2015

Beasley became Romo's favorite go-to target down the stretch of 2015, so the deal isn't a surprise. The team will pay him about $3.4 million per year for a total of $13.6 million. The receiver who almost quit football will have plenty of reason to hang around now after catch 44 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns last season — all four touchdowns which came from Weeks 12-17. He was crucial on third downs in 2014, where he tabbed 15 of his catches. It's a solid signing at a reasonable price, and Beasley should again solidify himself as the team's starting slot guy in 2015

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Headline: Saints releasing Pierre Thomas

Date: March 4, 2015

Thomas was a center-piece in Super Bowl XLIV, but has since faded away a bit. The Saints are in one of the worst cap crises in the NFL, and so cutting a 30-year-old running back was a no-brainer. They also restructured the deal of Marques Colston recently as well to create a few more million dollars. The doom and gloom around the Saints leads to a bigger picture which has created the issue: the Saints can't cut ties with their veterans. Of course, Thomas is one of the few players to go against that theme, but it was only because they were forced too. The Saints are going to have to do a whole lot more cutting if they want money to spend in free agency.

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Headline: Bills acquire Matt Cassel in trade with Vikings

Date: March 4, 2015

The plan is for Cassel to come in and be able to mentor E.J. Manuel, who is coming into his third year in the NFL. Cassel might start early on, as he has in the past in New England and Kansas City, but the expectation around the league is for Manuel to be able to live up to his first-round pick status. The Bills gave up a fifth-round pick for Cassel, who will have the chance to start next to LeSean McCoy. Rex Ryan's Bills have been very busy, before free agency even opens.

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Headline: Report: Lance Briggs will not return to Chicago Bears

Date: March 5, 2015

Briggs is an impending free agent, so it's just the Bears telling him they won't give the 12-year veteran another contract. Briggs tabbed the second-most tackles in Bears franchise history, and will be remembered for being a member of the rock solid defense with Brian Urlacher who made it all the way to Super Bowl XLI. Briggs just wasn't suited to be a starter in Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme, as he's a 4-3 outside backer. However, he's not a terrible stop gap at LB if a team needs it, so he'll probably get signed somewhere before retiring.

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Headline: Maurice Jones-Drew announces his retirement

Date: March 5, 2015

Jones-Drew was on his way out when he signed his new deal with the Raiders last year, so it was only a matter of time. He played most of his career with the Jaguars, where he topped out in 2011 with a 1,600-yard rushing season before a plague of injuries hit him. He finished his career with 8,167 yards on 1,847 carries. He likely would have had a hard time finding work elsewhere if the Raiders decided to cut him.

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Headline: Olsen signs extension

Date: March 5, 2015

Olsen gets a massive $12 million signing bonus on the three-year, $22.5 million real. He was set to become a free agent after next season, but he now won't hit the open market until he's 34 years old. Olsen was one of the top fantasy options at tight end last year, quietly producing consistent numbers week in and week out on a team that lacked many other targets. The deal is well deserved, and at a very fair price.

Headline: Carson Palmer restructures contract
Date: March 5, 2015
Palmer converted a $9.5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which can be spread over the last three years of his contract. It almost cuts his roster number in half, from $14.5 million to $7.4 million. It also said in the report linked that he will be ready for training camp after tearing his ACL in the middle of last year and killing the Cardinals' Super Bowl hopes. Although he said he's shooting for mandatory minicamp, that's unlikely, as he only had surgery just 3.5 months ago. Without a doubt, though, it sounds like he will be ready for Week 1 on the regular season, which is good news for Palmer and the Cardinals.

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Headline: Peyton Manning signs reduced deal

Date: March 6, 2015

The Broncos finalized Manning's return to the field by getting a new contract done. He cleared up about $4 million in cap space for the team by taking a paycut, going from $19 million to $15 million. He passed his physical, and he's now ready for his age-39 season. Expect another Super Bowl-type run from Denver, as long as Manning's arm can stay healthy.

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The rest of the March news can be found by looking at the free agent tracker and live blog.

J302: Restricted Free Agent List

2015-03-06T17:32:00.001-06:00

Larry Asante, S, Oakland Raiders — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings — Re-signed with Vikings (1-year deal)
Johnson Bademosi, S, Cleveland Browns — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Don Barclay, OT, Green Bay Packers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Antwon Blake, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers — Not tendered
Travaris Cadet, RB, New Orleans Saints — Not tendered
Tony Carter, CB, Denver Broncos — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Paul Cornick, OT, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $510,000)
Austin Davis, QB, St. Louis Rams — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Lance Dunbar, RB, Dallas Cowboys — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Kai Forbath, K, Washington Redskins — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jerrell Freeman, ILB, Indianapolis Colts — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Ben Garland, OG, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $510,000)
Tashaun Gipson, S, Cleveland Browns — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Robert Golden, S, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Lawrence Guy, DE, Baltimore Ravens
Damon Harrison, DT, New York Jets — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Cory Harkey, TE, St. Louis Rams — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Will Hill, S, Baltimore Ravens — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Andre Holmes, WR, Oakland Raiders — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Duke Ihenacho, S, Washington Redskins — Re-signed with Redskins (1-year, $666,000)
Kareem Jackson, CB, Houston Texans — Re-signed with Texans (4-years, $34 million)
Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, New York Jets — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
George Johnson, DE, Detroit Lions — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Will Johnson, FB, Pittsburgh Steelers — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seattle Seahawks — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, DT, Cleveland Browns — Original-round tender ($1.542 million)
Emmanuel Lamur, LB, Cincinnati Bengals — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Danny Lansanah, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Qualifying offer made (re-signed)
Ronald Leary, G, Dallas Cowboys
Kendrick Lewis, S, Houston Texans — Not tendered
Ryan Lindley, QB, Arizona Cardinals — Won't be tendered
Ricardo Lockette, WR, Seattle Seahawks — Won't be tendered
Ryan Mallett, QB, Houston Texans — Re-signed with Texans (2-year, $7 million)
Danieal Manning, S, Houston Texans — Not tendered
Brandon Marshall, ILB, Denver Broncos — Tender contract (1-year, $555,000)
Bradley McDougald, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Quality offer extended (re-signed)
Rodney McLeod, S, St. Louis Rams — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Kellen Moore, QB, Detroit Lions — Re-signed by Lions (2-year deal)
Derek Newton, RT, Houston Texans — Re-signed by Texans (5-years, $26 million)
Chris Polk, RB, Philadelphia Eagles — Original-round tender (1-year, $1.542 million)
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Original-round tender (1-year, $1.542 million)
Craig Robertson, LB, Cleveland Browns — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Brandian Ross, S, Oakland Raiders
Derek Shelby, DE, Miami Dolphins — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
A.Q. Shipley, C, Indianapolis Colts — Won't be tendered
Matt Simms, QB, New York Jets
Devon Still, DT, Cincinnati Bengals — Won't be tendered
Rod Streater, WR, Oakland Raiders — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Marcus Thigpen, RB, Buffalo Bills
Cedric Thornton, DE, Philadelphia Eagles — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Jordan Todman, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars — Won't be tendered
Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens — Second-round tender ($2.356 million)
Michael Wilhoite, ILB, San Francisco 49ers — Tendered (ERFA)

J302: No Offseason - February

2015-03-02T17:34:00.000-06:00

From the combine to free agency to coach hirings and firings to saving as many pennies as possibly via cap moves, there is no offseason in the NFL. Those dedicated to the great sport of football, and it's the same in almost every sport. But while the teams might not be on the gridiron, they're improving and reinventing themselves for the season ahead. "No Offseason" will be dedicated to presenting the moves and rumors which stem from the moves of the offseason. The moves will be tracked using RSS feeds, and compiling some of the most interesting and notable stories throughout the offseason, and rehashing them on this blog. This will be the post which outlines those moves.

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Headline: Peyton Manning is training in New Orleans with "the intent to play" in 2015
Date: February 9, 2015
This was the first time we got a solid report on Manning's intentions for 2015, which later became reality. In the weeks following the report, Manning made it common knowledge that he would be returning to the Broncos in 2015. Head coach Gary Kubiak reiterated that point at a press conference a week later, and then again at the NFL Combine. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time will give it (at least) one more run at the Lombardi Trophy. However, the team and Manning are working to bring his $19 million contract number down. The Broncos are well under the cap, but may need some space after bringing back Manning's top target Demaryius Thomas via franchise tag on Monday. That $19 million will become guaranteed on March 9, so it's imminent that the Broncos get the number down as soon as possible.

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Headline: Lions could lose most of their defensive tackles

Date: February 10, 2015

Most know that Ndamukong Suh will become the most sought after free agent if he hits the open market, demanding likely the highest salary of any defensive tackle. But he's only the beginning of the Lions' problems. The team is also set to lose Nick Fairley, Andre Fluellen, and C.J. Mosley. As of March 2, the team hasn't re-signed any of these guys, and declined to franchise tag Suh. If they decline to re-sign Suh (which is going to be tough, after he hit the open market), they'll need to move on to signing some new defensive tackles, or retaining some of the others they'll be losing. It'll be something to certainly keep an eye when the free agency flood gates open, and during the draft process.

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Headline: Cleveland Browns zeroing in on Marcus Mariota?

Date: February 10, 2015

This is an interesting example of how quickly the tides change in the NFL. NFL.com reports here that Browns general manager Ray Farmar has "shown a liking" for Oregon rookie QB Marcus Mariota. However, when Josh McCown was released by the Buccaneers, the Browns scurried after him, likely out-bidding other teams for him, signing him to a three-year deal, and telling other teams to go home. So, Mariota apparently wasn't too interesting to Farmar, who seemed to have to sided with McCown. With McCown now on the squad for around $5 million, it's unlikely the team chases anther QB, putting this early NFL.com noise of Mariota to the Browns to rest.

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Headline: Seahawks CB Byron Maxwell likely to hit the open market

Date: February 12, 2015

This report actually comes directly from the general manager of the Seahawks, John Schneider. Maxwell is expected to be one of the most sought-after defensive backs who will hit the free agency market, so it's unlikely the Seahawks will be able to match the highest bidder. According to a few reports (here and here) in the past few weeks, the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles will be the top suitors for the cornerback, who is seeking around $10 million a year, a high-end number for a cornerback. Both teams sport struggling secondaries, and Maxwell — a major part of the Legion of Boom over the last two years with six interceptions and 27 passes defensed — would be a big-time addition for either team.

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Headline: Cowboys decline three-year, $24 million option on DT Henry Melton

Date: February 14, 2015

This means that Melton suddenly will become one of the most sough after free agent defensive tackles, adding him to the mix with Suh, Fairley, Terrance Knighton, and C.J. Mosley and some others. This is a bit deeper than the Cowboys just declining to re-sign Melton, though. The Cowboys are a bit tight against the NFL cap number, and their two top priorities seem to be wide receiver Dez Bryant – who was franchise tagged by the team — and running back Demarco Murray — who seems unlikely to return. Though the Cowboys couldn't afford the number, it's likely that Melton will find a similar amount of money somewhere else on the open market, which opens on March 10.

———

Headline: Coach: Jameis Winston throwing in Indy a "game-time decision"

Date: February 16, 2015

The report of Mariota and the possibility of not throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine got a lot of traction, but it all added up to nothing. Winston eventually threw at the combine, and threw well. He even performed better than Marcus Mariota, who also wavered a bit on whether he would throw, but ultimately did. After Winston's shoulder was evaluated, there were some whispers about the quarterback having an injury that could affect him long-term. Winston shook those off, and decided that he would throw at the combine; the whispers of his injury may have ultimately made the decision for him, so he could prove to NFL teams that he was healthy. By the end of the week at the NFL Combine, it was expected that Winston will go first overall in the NFL draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Headline: Larry Fitzgerald guaranteed $11 million per year over next two years

Date: February 18, 2015

The Cardinals were considering cutting Larry Fitzgerald before he agreed to restructure his contract. The team gained around $12.6 million in cap space by making Fitzgerald's deal a two-year, $22 million deal, which includes a no-trade clause, and making his 2017 and 2018 completely voidable. By also getting rid of Darnell Dockett, the team has now gotten under the cap and can make some noise in free agency, but not a lot. They'll likely use most of their allotted cap space to sign rookies.

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Headline: Jaguars expected to be suitors for Julius Thomas

Date: February 23, 2015

This would be interesting. Thomas will be leaving Denver seeking a big pay day, as the team isn't going to give him the long-term deal worth the amount of money/guarantees he would like. According to the Denver Post, the Jaguars will be the most aggressive pursuers of Thomas. Add him to sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles, receiver Marquise Lee and Cecil Shorts (if the team re-signs him), as well as the possible return of Justin Blackmon — who has struggled with suspensions from various run-ins with the law — and the team has seemed to make a real commitment to the vertical attack. They need it, as they finished second-to-last in passing yards in 2014.

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Headline: Byron Jones obliterates the Combine broad jump record

Date: February 23, 2015

I put little to no stock in the NFL Combine, which is why this is the only link you see on the actual event here, but Jones, a cornerback from Connecticut, earned himself a job at the event. Jones was the first player to ever broad jump over 12 feet, as he reached 12-feet, 3-inches. In fact, to anyone's knowledge, it's the best broad jump of all-time. He was also only half an inch away from this year's top vertical jump, as he tabbed in with 44.5 inches. There's no doubt that, even if he doesn't get drafted, he'll be getting a job come May.

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Headline: Pernell McPhee likely to leave the Ravens in free agency

Date: February 23, 2015

McPhee is going to get a nice payday after his rookie deal expires on March 10, likely seeking $8 million per year. However, he only played about half of the Ravens snaps last season and is only a situational pass rusher. He's not going to be an every down guy, but he's also versatile in that he's a big outside pass rusher who can also go inside. A price above $8 million may be too rich for any team's blood, but the Colts are in the mix, and they've been known to overpay players if they have to to get who they want. They'd be the top team to keep an eye on; after releasing DT Ricky Jean-Francois, a failed experiment after just one season, they need to make a move on the defensive line.

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Headline: Falcons will have interest in Justin Forsett

Date: February 23, 2015

Forsett is a sketchy free agent. He's going on his age 30 season, and while he doesn't have a ton of miles, an age like that is never a plus; we even saw his tired legs struggle down the stretch in 2014. However, Baltimore will try to retain Forsett this year to mentor its younger backs, but Atlanta makes sense too. The Falcons signed Kyle Shanahan to become the team's next offensive coordinator, and it's likely he installs a system similar to the one Kubiak installed in Baltimore — the same one Forsett thrived under. Plus, the Falcons have already released 2014 lead back Steven Jackson, and while they vocally support Devonta Freeman as the net workhorse, his style of play isn't the type to carry a backfield.

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Headline: DeAngelo Williams: 'Nobody' came to funeral

Date: February 24, 2015

The headline is referring to a quote Williams made after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers, in reference to his mother's funeral during the 2014 season. Williams essentially went on record bashing the team after they released him, though he says he wasn't upset because of the way the team treated him. Defensive end Greg Hardy was the only player who came to the funeral, and he was on the commissioner's exempt list at the time (and currently still remains there). The team will designate Williams as a post-June 1 release and save $2 million to go towards the cap, but must wait until March 10 to make the designation (when the new league year begins). The 31-year-old's career is likely coming to an end, though he could float around the league a bit longer. Jonathan Stewart should be expected to handle the full workload going forward in Carolina, as he did at the end of last season.

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Headline: Ravens release KR/WR Jacoby Jones

Date: February 25, 2015

This is a tough blog for Jones, who signed a four-year, $12 million deal before the 2014 season, just one year after he helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl. The cut only saves about $750,000. Jones will land back on his feet somewhere, but really is exclusively a kick returner. He visited the Bengals on March 2.

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Headline: Lions release RB Reggie Bush in cost-cutting move

Date: February 26, 2015

Bush is just another name on the long list of cap casualties. Bush couldn't stay healthy in 2014, and just turned 30 on March 2. The Lions saved $1.7 million by cutting the running back who only averaged 3.9 yards per carry when he played. That money will likely help re-sign some of their defensive tackles. Like Williams, he'll float around the NFL for a little longer before he completely fades out, but his career is mostly over. Theo Riddick will be the Lions passing back behind starter Joique Bell moving forward, and the Lions brass have spoken highly of him over the past few weeks.

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Headline: Judge overturns suspension of Adrian Peterson

Date: February 26, 2015
This is the first chapter in what will be a long and developing offseason for Peterson. Although the suspension was initially overturned, he was not reinstated and stayed put on the commissioner's exempt list. Then the NFL decided to appeal the decision on Peterson's return, for an unseen reason. The appeal then goes to Harold Henderson, who originally upheld the Peterson suspension in December. It's a labyrinth and an absolute mess of lawsuits and back-and-forth. Until it gets sorted out, it's hard to say exactly what will happen, but it's unlikely we see Peterson in a Vikings uniform again. If he is able to return to the league, the most viable teams would likely be the Cowboys or the Cardinals, both of whom have reportedly expressed interest in the former league-leading rusher. Although he is on the exempt list, he will be able to be traded or released by the Vikings after March 10, though he'll likely have to restructure his contract before he goes anywhere, as his salary ($12.75 mil this year, $14.75 mil next year, and $16.75 million in 2017) is outrageous for a running back in comparison to others in the league.

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Headline: Raiders releasing safety Tyvon Branch

Date: February 26, 205

Branch was a starter in the secondary last year as a strong safety, and he's going to get back on a team after he was released, but not at a $5.5 million price tag. This is a money-making move for the Raiders, who already have plenty of it. Branch has tabbed over 100 tackles every single year he's been healthy, but in the last two season he's missed 27 games in each of his last two seasons. He's just not worth that kind of investment any longer. However, the Chiefs, Colts, and Redskins are already interested in signing Branch. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a tremendous signing at a prime age of 28.

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Headline: Rams release Kendall Langford

Date: February 26, 2015

Langford's release makes complete sense. DT Aaron Donald emerged onto the scene after a big way when he was drafted by the team last year. That made Langford, a defensive tackle who was set to make $6 million in the final year of his contract, expendable. Langford is a very good interior lineman, and at 29 years old, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to find a starting spot somewhere, as he can play DT in a 4-3, or DE in a 3-4, and has experience with both. He currently has visits lined up with the Lions (who we mentioned are going to need some defensive lineman), the Jets, and the Saints. The Lions seem like the most likely as of now, as the 29-year-old would have the best chance to start there as their current situation stands.

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Headline: Josh McCown inks 3-year deal

Date: February 27, 2015

Oh how quickly the tides turn in the NFL. Just 24 hours before McCown signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Browns, he had visited buffalo and was talking about a contract with the Bills. Apparently, the Browns outbid them, and he'll now likely be Cleveland's Week 1 starter. McCown feels like a stop-gap at quarterback as they wait and see where Johnny Manziel is, though they did sign the 35-year-old for three years. Brian Hoyer was okay for the Browns last year, but sometimes struggled mightily, and was never expected to return to Cleveland after the team missed the playoffs and he was set to hit free agency. Look for Cleveland to make another move at QB (likely in the draft) in the next few years, but for now, it'll be McCown under-center. As for Buffalo, they could make a play for Brian Hoyer in free agency, or catch a QB in the draft, unless they want to continue to ride with third-year quarterback E.J. Manuel.

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Headline: Falcons release Harry Douglas

Date: February 27, 2015

Douglas was set to make $3.5 million in the final year of his contract. His main role with the Falcons has been filling in when Julio Jones or Roddy White got banged up and had to miss time. His best year was 2013 when he topped 1,000 yards on 85 catches. He's visiting the Titans, who he would fit with well, considering he's a rather mediocre receiver and the Titans are more than mediocre team who make awful free agent decisions.

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Headline: Dolphins to release Brian Hartline

Date: February 27, 205

While the Dolphins decide what to do with Mike Wallace, who won't take a pay cut, they decided to find money elsewhere, by cutting Brian Hartline. He was due $5.9 million this year, and teams just don't pay that much for guys who are complementary wide receivers unless they tall and big. There's already plenty of teams interested in Hartline, including the Browns, Texas, Bears, Chiefs, and Patriots. So, Hartline won't be making $5.9 million, but he'll be just fine, and likely be able to get back into a starting lineup somewhere outside of Miami. As for the Dolphins, last year's second-round pick Jarvis Landry is sure to get more snaps as Hartline descends. The team started to phase him in at the beginning of last year, and he did very well in his role, which is very similar to what Hartline was doing with the team as well.

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Headline: Baltimore Ravens release DE Chris Canty

Date: February 27, 2015

Just another cap casualty on this Friday. The team saved $2.66 million with the move before the final year of his three-year deal that he signed in 2013. It's possible that he could be retiring at age 32 after a 10-year career. The deal was most likely to clear up space to make moves on the offensive side, where Torrey Smith is a free agent.

Mmmm, 10-piece Basketball Nuggets: Kansas vs California Santa Barbara

2014-11-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Kansas basketball opened the season at Allen Fieldhouse with a 69-59 win over the University of California, Santa Brabara Gauchos on Friday night. Below are some interesting facts, figures, and quick hits from said game.

Some found it a bit surprising that freshman guard Kelly Oubre Jr. only played four minutes in his regular season debut for the Jayhawks. Bill Self said after the game that it was purely a coaching decision, nothing more. He said it wasn't a knock to Oubre, but he's young, and suggested that he's got a ways to go to get more time on the court. It'll be interesting to see where his role goes from here. Oubre didn't seem too upset about it after the game, and he even tweeted out some encouraging words for Devonte' Graham after the win.

Big s/o to my brother @Devonte_Graham4 on leading us to a great team win tonight!! #KUCMB
— Kelly Paul Oubre Jr. (@K_Ctmd22) November 15, 2014

Former Kansas coach Larry Brown said this week that Kentucky can go undefeated this year. When it came up in the press conference, Self laughed it off, but said the following. "Who knows what Larry's doing. He may be mad at Cal about something. ... They’re a team that could obviously make a (undefeated) run like that. ... Every game they play, they’re probably going to be favored. So if you're a favorite every game, the chances are probably pretty good you're going to win." The No. 5 Jayhawks take on No. 1 Kentucky in Indianapolis, Ind. on Tuesday.

Kansas forward Cliff Alexander left the Fieldhouse with an ice pack on his wrist. He bruised it in the last exhibition against Emporia State, but appears to be okay. Alexander dropped nine points and grabbed four boards in the win. Four of those points came from a pair of jumpers, which impressed Bill Self. Self said he reacted to those jumpers with a "No, no, no!... Good shot, Cliff. Self added: "He acted like he knew what he was doing. He played well."

Perry Ellis picked up his seventh career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. There's plenty where that came from. It's only the beginning of what we're going to see from Ellis this season.

Devonte' Graham made a good case for the starting shooting guard spot. He shot 5-of-8 from the floor for a team-high 14 points, was very efficient, and came out as a starter in the second half. Brennan Greene didn't play badly, but he had only three points, and didn't do anything to etch his name into the starting spot. Graham may not get the spot immediately, but Greene certainly doesn't have it locked down, by any means. The freshman is right on his tail.

13 NBA scouts were at Allen Fieldhouse to witness UCSB big man Alan Williams, and he didn't shy away from the attention. He dropped 22 points on the Jayhawks, snatched 13 boards, and shot 9-of-18 from the field. Williams is a bad, bad man. He will go through you, and he's going to make fools of a lot of Big West defenders this year, as he did last year. This is a name to keep on your radar in the future, as he's very, very talented.

The Jayhawks won their 42nd consecutive season-opener at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday, which dates back to 1973. IT was also the Jayhawks 13th straight season-opening victory. Bill Self has never lost a season-opener in his tenure at KU. But there were some disparities in the win. Kansas' 69 points were the lowest points scored by a team in its opener since the 2004 Jayhawks scored 68 against Vermont. 10-points was also the lowest season-opening victory since that 2004 game.

Perry Ellis scored the first points of the season for the Jayhawks, just 12 seconds in. Legend. Ary.

Only six Jayhawks have scored more points than Graham (14) in their first regular season game in a Kansas jersey: Xavier Henry (27), Josh Selby (21), Andrew Wiggins (16), and Perry Ellis, Mario Chalmers, and Greg Ostertang (15).

Self called Jamari Traylor "unnoticed" after the game. He picked up 10 boards for only the second time in his career, and was given the task of defending Williams with most of his time on the court. He notched two blocks as well. Both Traylor and Alexander deserve the starting spot next to Perry Ellis down low, so it's going to be interesting to see how Self handles that situation.

Kansas vs. Washburn, from the student section

2014-11-03T22:32:00.003-06:00

The University of Kansas basketball team opened their search for an 11th straight Big 12 title with an 85-53 win over Washburn University in an exhibition game on Monday night. It’s hard to judge some things in a game like this, where KU simply is bigger, faster, and stronger than the team they’re playing. But there were still takeaways. Here are some quick updates and thoughts from that game.

Cliff Alexander is that dude who gets “in the building” proclamations. Alexander is that guy that children will put so much effort into imitating on seven-foot goals during this season, and beyond. The curtain was pulled back on Alexander in the crimson and blue on Monday, and the show was more than compelling with him down low. In his first five minutes on the floor, the freshman posted 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting. He was getting after it harder than anyone else on the floor in what some would consider a scrimmage. Though it’s an overused cliche, Alexander quite literally looked like a man amongst boys against this undersized Washburn team. Alexander looked and played like an absolute Goliath. Despite the mismatch in game one, it’s easy to see that Alexander is the real deal. His aggressive defense style is a bit terrifying for Jayhawks fans, but if he can temper that side of him, there’s not much of his game that isn’t at an elite level. He finished with 17 points, 9 boards, and 3 blocks on the night.

Frank Mason III put on the best performance of the night. While Alexander was a show-stopper, Mason was consistent on both ends of the floor, and may have ended much of the debate at the point-guard position with his performance. He posted 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 boards. He was control of the floor for much of the second half, chipping in nine of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes. His passing looked much improved from last season, and he led a Jayhawks team that allowed only 13 points in the first half.

Kansas loves Svi Mykhailiuk. If it wasn’t clear from the media already jumping on every angle they could with this kid, Allen Fieldhouse left no doubt in his first time stepping on James Naismith Court. It might be the nicknames, it may be his age, or the fact that he’s a long ways from home. Regardless, he’s a hotter commodity than Tyler Self. We’re going to hear a lot of “Svi for Threeeee!!!” and “Svi-fense” this season. *Men's Warehouse voice* I guarantee it.

Kelly Oubre Jr. might just replace Andrew Wiggins as dunk master. He had a big one that rocked the Fieldhouse in the second-half of Monday’s game. Okay, so it was only one dunk on a fastbreak, which I've embedded below. I really just wanted a chance to force you to watch Oubre dunking, because it’s pure gold. This guy can really throw down, and he has a cool haircut, too.

Brannen Greene has a concussion. It was picked up on a second-half screen from Washburn, where the Ichabod lifted his hands above his shoulders and put a football-type block on Greene. Play stopped, and Greene dropped to the floor on the other end of the court before getting up and walking to the locker room with a trainer. Greene was expected to start tonight, until his defense in Sunday’s practice derailed that, Self said. Of course, as with any concussion, there’s no timetable for his return.

Below are highlights from KU's official website.

Vontaze Burfict deserves suspension for dirty plays against Panthers on Sunday

2014-10-12T20:22:00.000-05:00

Vontaze Burfict is not your ideal football player. From a skills standpoint, Burfict has always been on top of his class of linebackers. But his issues staying level-headed both on and off the field have kept Burfict from being respected as an elite player that he is on the gridiron.

The 6'1" Centennial High School (Ca.) standout was a five-star recruit and ranked as the top middle linebacker by both ESPN and Rivals during his senior season. He originally committed to play for USC, but switched to Arizona State on signing day, something that is often frowned upon in the world of recruiting. He hardly qualified to meet NCAA eligibility standards before joining the Sun Devils in 2009. Nonetheless, by the end of the year he was named the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year, and was named as a Freshman All-American. His talent won out in that season.

But during his sophomore season, Burfict was benched for his "unusually high number of personal foul penalties." He later finished the season as an All-American and with a team lead in tackles. In his final 26 college games, he was tabbed with 16 personal fouls, and when he entered the NFL Draft, teams were concerned of his anger issues and controlling his emotions on the field.

That, mixed with an ultimately underwhelming NFL Combine where he told many teams that he had smoked marijuana, failed the drug test, didn't help his draft prowess. He ran a 5.09 second 40-yard dash (the lowest of any linebacker in the combine), came in heavier than expected, and benched 225 pounds only 16 times. His broad jump and vertical jump were among the worst in comparison to the other linebackers.

There were plenty of red flags for NFL teams, and it caused him to plummet in March's draft. He fell from an elite prospect that was expected to go in the first round to completely undrafted. He's been a star for the Bengals on the field since being signed after the draft, but in his third season in the NFL, he's still leaving people baffled by his pure stupidity on the field.

On Sunday, in a 37-37 tie with the Carolina Panthers, Burfict first was flagged for roughing the passer on Cam Newton in the first quarter. Then, after Newton's third quarter rushing touchdown, Burfict was caught on film blatantly twisting Newton's ankle, using the force of his body to try to injure him. The GIF of that is below.

Newton clearly felt the twist, and wasn't happy about it, as he turned around immediately after and attempted to get Burfict's attention by kicking his helmet. But Burfict's aggression wasn't done. Later, in the fourth quarter after Greg Olsen's go-ahead touchdown with 4:51 to go, Burfict grabbed the tight end's left leg and used his body to attempt what looks like a wrestling move. His intent, again, was clearly malicious.

Obviously emotions were high in a game like this, which went back-and-forth, especially late in regulation, where it ended up at 34-34.

It is clear that Burfict has become better with his temper and blatant personal fouls during his tenure with the Bengals. In fact, he was the first to rush to Panthers linebacker and friend Luke Kuechly's side when he went down with a mild injury in the third quarter, beating teammates and trainers to the spot Kuechly was down at. But in a sport that is already being toned down during actual play, there's no excuse for Burfict's actions after the whistle.

Talking a storm after the play, or even physical aggression that goes both ways, is one thing. That's football, and it's passion. But attempting to injure a fellow player with malicious intent has, unconditionally, no place in the NFL.

The NFL hasn't announced the review of either of these plays, but it should. Simply, Burfict has to be punished, financially, and maybe even suspended for his actions. It wasn't just a dirty hit to the head in the heat of the moment; it was a blatant attempt to injure another player. As for the Bengals, who have crowned Burfict as a captain for the defensive side of the ball, have to rethink tabbing him as the voice and face of their defense after make boneheaded mistakes such as this.

Something has to be done, and hopefully the NFL or the Bengals won't leave it in the dark, and take action before the Bengals take on the Colts next Sunday.

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Edit: After the posting of this article, it was brought to my attention that the ankle which Burfict attempted to injure was the same one that Newton had surgery on this offseason. Any other developments on this situation will be posted here.

Panthers kicker Graham Gano tweeted about Burfict's actions after the game. He didn't have nice things to say.

Unbelievable that a player would intentionally try to hurt my teammates twice. I hope the NFL lays down the law hard. #Unacceptable
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 13, 2014

NFL Misconceptions: Eric Decker

2013-11-10T23:53:00.001-06:00

The NFL is full of misconceptions. By now, you should know that. Player-by-player, coach-by-coach, team-by-team, game-by-game, week-by-week -- there are piles of misconceptions. If a player isn't constantly shoved into your face by media or consistently producing at the top level, he isn't recognized to be a good player.

This is the case of Eric Decker. The No. 3 target for the Denver Broncos, he simply does not get enough credit for the mammoth of a beast he is. For sake of argument, I'm going to spend most of this article comparing him to Jordy Nelson, who has been pinned by most everyone to be a borderline top 10 receiver. You'll quickly figure out why I chose Nelson to compare to Decker as we venture on this jaunt.

I'll break it down into college numbers, pro numbers, and what we can expect going forward. Let's get to it.

College

Decker played his full college career out at Minnesota, where as Nelson played three years at Kansas State before entering the draft. Both posted very similar college numbers. Example one: yards per target. You can click to enlarge this graph, and all others.

Each posted roughly 10 yards per catch in their final year of college, though Nelson did it on nearly 70 more receptions. Decker bagged just 50 receptions in his final year at Minnesota due to a foot sprain that forced him out of five games and also held him out through the combine.

Nevertheless, Decker posted nearly 50 percent market share of his team's yards in his final year and 60 percent of touchdowns -- both feats that Nelson never conquered. Nelson's yardage market share continued to increase until it peaked in his senior year.

These market share numbers, among others, launched the "Eric Decker Factor", from RotoViz writer Jon Moore. As noted, Decker did not participate in the combine due to his foot injury, so we don't have many combine numbers. But he did run a 40-yard dash. What we do have is posted below. Jordy Nelson's combine numbers are included for a comparison point.

Player	Height	Weight	40-yard
Eric Decker	6’ 3 1/8’’	217	4.56
Jordy Nelson	6’ 2 5/8’’	217	4.51

Decker missed most drills, but considering his college baseball career and of course his game tape, he could have been expected to match Nelson's numbers. Decker was drafted in the third round by Denver despite his foot injury, and Nelson was drafted in the second round by Green Bay. Let's jump into his pro numbers.

Pro

Nelson was drafted in 2008 but didn't completely break out of his shell until 2011, whereas Decker was drafted in 2010 and became noteworthy for his attraction to the end-zone with eight touchdowns on 44 catches in 2011.

However, 2011's bar was set by Tim Tebow at the helm, and Jordy Nelson busted open for 1,302 yards and 15 touchdowns -- his best season. The two seasons aren't comparable in any facet, as Nelson dominated across the board, posting top five numbers in most stats. 2012 is the first comparable year -- when Peyton Manning took over for the Broncos under-center. Below are the stats.

Player	Rec	Yards	TDs	YPR	YAC/R	YPRR	CR	DR
Eric Decker	91	1,148	13	12.6	3.4	1.80	70.0%	12.37%
Jordy Nelson	57	842	7	14.8	5.0	1.86	68.7%	14.04%

Jordy was injured multiple times in this season and played through injury at times. He played 12 full games, two of which were in the playoffs. His stats extrapolated come out to: 86 receptions, 1,263 yards, and 11 touchdowns. The most important things to look at are YPC, YAC/R, YPRR, CR, and DR. Those numbers would tend not to vary depending on volume.

Player	Rec	Yards	TDs	YPR	YAC/R	YPRR	CR	DR
Eric Decker	49	721	3	14.7	5.2	2.10	65.3%	12.50%
Jordy Nelson	49	772	7	15.8	5.0	2.33	72.9%	4.44%

It's the difference between the two is clear: hands. Decker has had a drop rate of over 12 percent in every season in the NFL, once posting over 16 percent in 2011 (though he played less than 50 percent of his team's snaps that season). His big problem this year was dropping 31.3% of catchable passes -- five passes -- over his first two game. He's found a way to tame the drop beast and has limited it to 12.50%.

Luckily for Decker, hands is one thing a receiver can work to get better at. You can't change a small frame. The talent is here, it's just a matter of getting those hands into full form.

Decker's lack of touchdowns in 2012 comes from the insufficiency of looks when it comes down to the red-zone. With the emergence of Julius Thomas and the addition of Wes Welker -- both tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns -- as well as Knowshon Moreno to churn out goal-line touchdowns, it's no shock that Decker isn't getting looks in the red-zone despite his 6'3" frame.

Whereas Nelson has only posted similar numbers team full of injured counterparts -- Jermichael Finley on IR, Randall Cobb missing most of the season, and James Jones struggling to stay on the field. He's seeing plenty of targets when it matters -- in the red-zone.

Future

From the numbers posted thus far, it's clear that Jordy Nelson is and has been the better receiver in the NFL based on production. I'm not arguing that.

But it can also be argued that Decker -- who has a similar build and catch rate when compared to Nelson over the last two years -- is comparable and on the same level from a skill stand-point as Jordy Nelson. He's sat behind Demaryius Thomas as a WR2 for his short NFL career, but will hit the market after this year as an unrestricted free agent, as long as the Broncos do not choose to franchise tag him.

If the 26-year-old Decker lands on a WR-needy team with a quarterback who can play -- say, for example, the Panthers -- then, from what we have seen him do thus far, he can produce at the caliber that Nelson has produced over the last three seasons as a WR1.

As far as fantasy implications, I believe that in the near future Decker will be outproducing Nelson if he is placed on a team that he can be a true WR1. Decker is 26, Nelson is 28 and has two more years of NFL wear and tear on him. If Decker remains with the Broncos, his value won't vary drastically from what he posted in 2013, and he will continue to be classified as a middling receiver, which is a false narrative based only on his physique and production.

Thanks for reading. Leave comments below, or let me know if your thoughts on Decker changed on my Twitter.

***

For the numbers and charts I used throughout this piece, subscribe to RotoViz and ProFootballFocus' premium stats. You can subscribe to these outlets by clicking on the images below. If you're serious about fantasy football, I highly recommend both.

Things We Learned - Week 7

2013-10-20T19:23:00.002-05:00

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

1. Michael Vick has no competition for his job. Plain and simple. Nick Foles was horrendous. And if you thought Foles was hard to watch, rookie quarterback Matt Barkley made you turn off the TV after Foles left the game. Barkley threw three interceptions on just 20 attempts. For all the talk about Vick having competition for his job, it came to a quick halt this week. Vick will be back under-center for the Eagles in Week 8.

2. Miles Austin is irrelevant. Since Austin's last catch, Terrance Williams has 18 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns. To add-on to Williams, Cole Beasley has become a security blanket for Romo, an provided six catches for 53 yards in this game. Beasley has more fantasy value than Austin at this point.

3. Brandon Carr is a matchup to avoid at all costs. Carr has allowed a catch rate of nearly 50 percent to opposing wide receivers, and is allowing an average of only 44 yards to his matchups this season. DeSean Jackson caught only three passes for 21 yards in Week 7 against Carr. Carr is performing like a top 5 NFL corner, and it's time to take notice in your fantasy lineups.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

1. Harry Douglas will continue to be a plug-and-play receiver as long as Roddy White is out, and possibly even when White returns. He hauled in seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Buccaneers' flimsy secondary.

2. Doug Martin will underwent x-rays on his shoulders and they returned negative. The Bucs play on Thursday, so it will be something to keep your eye out for. If he's inactive, we'll see Mike James (14 carries, 45 yards) take over the lead back role.

3. The Falcons need Steven Jackson, and they need him bad. Jacquizz Rodgers (8 carries, 16 yards) and Jason Snelling (7 carries, 14 yards) have been worse than just mediocre. I expect both to stay active in the pass game when Jackson returns, but they shouldn't be carrying the shoulders of a running game. Jackson should be back sooner rather than later.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Detroit Lions

1. There aren't many situations more frustrating than that of Giovani Bernard. Bernard has averaged a higher yards per carry then BenJarvus Green-Ellis in every week but one. Nevertheless, Green-Ellis has carried the ball more often than Bernard in all but one game. It simply doesn't make sense. I'd be stashing Bernard and hold out hope that the Bengals coaching staff realizes that they're holding back the league's best rookie running back.

2. Joique Bell isn't more than a bye-week flex. He hasn't touched the ball 10 times since Week 4, where the Lions scored 40 points against the Bears. Even in PPR, he only has four catches in his last two weeks. Reggie Bush can be classified as a work-horse with over 20 touches in four-of-five games in which he's played the entire game.

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins

1. Let's kick this off with the Dolphins running backs. Let's put it this way: my hand is all the way out of the cookie jar with this situation. I simply do not understand why the Dolphins refuse to use Lamar Miller, even when he is successful. This team just doesn't run the ball very much, and Tannehill doesn't give them much of a chance when he throws two interceptions early one. Even in Week 5 when Miller received the majority of snaps, was featured as the lead-back, and made no mistakes, it was back to Daniel Thomas after their Week 6 bye. You're never going to see either of these guys emerge: Thomas won't emerge because of serious talent limitations, and Miller won't because of poor coaching. It'd be best if you removed your hand from the cookie jar, too.

2. And here we go to the Bills running back situation. I hate to say it, but C.J. Spiller is no longer a consideration to be a week-to-week fantasy starter. Yes, you have to keep him stashed on your bench, but he's not the same Spiller that we saw in 2012. Not even close. We've seen flashes of 2012 Spiller, but on a week-to-week basis, Spiller is not reliable. It's worth noting that Fred Jackson will continue to be a weekly starter because of his goal-line work. He has four rushing touchdowns over his last four games in four tough matchups.

New England Patriots @ New York Jets

1. Rob Gronkowski (17 targets, 8 receptions, 114 yards) is back. Okay, let's move on.

2. Chris Ivory (34 carries, 104 yards) is finally receiving the carries that we all expected. He asked for the ball more this week, and he got it. Bilal Powell rushed only three times to Ivory's 34 on Sunday. If Ivory is a free agent in your league, then you're picking him up. Powell is safe to drop if it is confirmed that he was not injured and it was just Ivory taking the carries. I'm expecting Ivory to continue to be the work-horse as long as he is healthy.

3. Aaron Dobson is worth owning over Kenbrell Thompkins. Dobson has been targeted 17 times and has caught 9 over the last two weeks, while Thompkins has been targeted 11 times with just five catches. Neither has a great fantasy outlook, but if I'm owning one, it's Dobson.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins

1. The Redskins defense makes any quarterback look good. Josh McCown went 14-for-20 for 204 yards and a touchdown in place of injured Jay Cutler. Cutler will undergo an MRI on his injured groin on Monday, but a source told me initial diagnosis revealed that he is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. It'll be interesting if McCown can hold the fort against the upcoming schedule that consists of the Packers, Lions, and the Super Bowl Champion Ravens.

2. No Roy Helu Jr. isn't taking Alfred Morris' job, but he will limit it. But we also already knew that. Helu racked up three touchdowns as he received all of the work at the goal line and 11 carries in all. Helu finished with a 3.7 yards per carry average, while Morris notched a 5.0 yards per carry average on 19 carries. I'm not concerned about Morris, and you shouldn't be either. He's a borderline RB1, which is what you drafted him to be.

3. Robert Griffin III isn't the same guy when the Redskins let him run. He's a lot better. He rushed 11 times for 84 yards in this game, on top of his 298 yards passing. It's clear that Griffin is finally back to full health after his January ACL tear. I'd expect to see a lot more of these game where Griffin is let loose, and everyone will benefit from it.

4. Jordan Reed is a legit TE1. He racked up 134 yards and touchdown on nine targets and nine receptions against the Bears, who have played well against tight ends in recent weeks. The Redskins are using him as their top priority in the pass-game. A legit tight end is something that Griffin hasn't had thus far in his career, and we can expect this new weapon to continue to be an intricate part of the offense.

St. Louis Rams @ Carolina Panthers

1. Not much to say in this game. We learned, for another week, that Zac Stacy is the lead running back for the Rams. Stacy has racked up 35 carries to Daryl Richardson's 6 over the last two weeks.

2. Steve Smith picked up his second touchdown in the same amount of games. Take that as you will, but he's nothing more than a week-to-week flex option. Mike Tolbert also picked up his third touchdown in two weeks. Week-to-week, Tolbert is more valuable than DeAngelo Williams because he will continue to get the carries around the goal line.

3. Sam Bradford will undergo an MRI on his injured knee on Monday, but he is thought to have a torn ACL. We'll get an official diagnosis on Monday.

San Diego Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Chad Henne passed for over 300 yards for the second consecutive week. But Justin Blackmon wasn't the center of the offense as he had been in his firs two games back from suspension. Blackmon was targeted nine times, while Cecil Shorts III saw a team-leading 13 targets against the flimsy Chargers defense. Henne gets the 49ers next week, which is another great matchup. Blackmon and Shorts will be must starts for Week 8.

2. Ryan Mathews is back! He's a feature back! Just like we all expected! Exclamation point! Mathews has over 20 carries and 100 carries in back-to-back games. This week, Mathews also got into the end-zone. I sense a three-peat coming against the Washington Redskins next week. Mathews is looking good, and he's finally looking healthy.

3. Keenan Allen came back to earth in this game with six targets. The Chargers just didn't throw much in the second half due to a 14-3 lead at half. They really slowed the game down with short passes and put the ball on the ground a lot. I'd expect Allen to bounce back, and you can still trust him, because he didn't kill you with a goose-egg this week.

September 11.

2013-09-11T20:08:00.002-05:00

12 years have passed. 12 years since a day that I – then a four-year-old preschooler – can no longer remember.

12 years since one of the most horrific days in United States history. September 11, 2001: dual terrorist attacks on New York City’s Twin Towers. Including first respondents, 3,000 beautiful lives were taken in a single day.

Try to imagine the pain. One second, you’re maybe scheduling a meeting for tomorrow, or deciding what you will have for lunch. Then, in next second, you realize there will be no meeting tomorrow. Knowing you are going to die, fighting to breathe for as long as you can handle.

No longer are you making the decision on what to eat for lunch, instead you are choosing death by suffocation, sitting in your cubicle; or death by suicide, falling to a fast and painless death.

There are no options. No goodbye to your family. For most there's no last, "I love you." Those dreams you have worked your entire life to achieve -- vanished. This is the end of the line.

Now imagine the pain of those families of those whose lives were taken. Those families who are still suffering from their losses – 12 years later. Children who never said their last goodbyes to their parent. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents who will never again witness that light in their life.

Now imagine the pain of those 3,000 helpless civilians and multiply that by 40. Take America’s pain in that one day and in the coming years, and repeat that same loss, same sorrow, day after day.

Anywhere between 114,000 and 125,000 Middle-Eastern civilians have been killed by Americans in those 12 years following 9/11.

Over 100,000 civilians have faced death or death situations like the many people did on September 11. Ordinary people, living everyday lives; scheduling a meeting, maybe wondering what they would have for lunch later on in the day.

Yet those people – with the same hurt, their families feeling the same sorrow that us Americans have felt – have gone unrecognized in America. We have become so hung up and so full of sorrow for the 3,000 people – people, just like the over 100,000 – who died here, that we don’t stop to think about that same hurt that is still happening in the Middle East.

This is a day that we should not only pray for those who lost loved ones in America on September 11, but those who have lost loved ones as a result of America’s War on Terrorism. And pray that these unnoticed deaths may become common knowledge – much like September 11 -- and come to a stop.

Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings

2013-09-07T00:05:00.001-05:00

Let's just jump into it because, if we're all honest with each other here, you're probably not reading this intro anyways. Here are my Week 1 rankings.

These rankings are based on non-PPR standard fantasy football leagues.

Quarterbacks

1. Robert Griffin III vs Phi
2. Drew Brees vs Atl
3. Tom Brady @ Buf
4. Andrew Luck vs Oak
5. Matt Ryan @ NO
6. Aaron Rodgers @ SF
7. Michael Vick @ Was
8. Colin Kaepernick vs GB
9. Ben Roethlisberger vs Ten
10. Tony Romo vs NYG
11. Russell Wilson @ Car
12. Matthew Stafford vs Min
13. Eli Manning @ Dal
14. Cam Newton vs Sea
15. E.J. Manuel vs NE
16. Matt Schaub @ SD
17. Terrelle Pryor @ IND
18. Jay Cutler vs Cin
19. Josh Freeman @ NYJ
20. Alex Smith @ Jax
21. Andy Dalton @ Chi
22. Brandon Weeden vs Mia
23. Sam Bradford vs Ari
24. Christian Ponder @ Det
25. Carson Palmer @ StL

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson @ Det
2. Jamaal Charles @ Jax
3. Alfred Morris vs Phi
4. Marshawn Lynch @ Car
5. Doug Martin @ NYJ
6. Stevan Ridley @ Buf
7. LeSean McCoy @ Was
8. C.J. Spiller vs NE
9. Steven Jackson @ NO
10. Reggie Bush vs Min
11. Trent Richardson vs Mia
12. Lamar Miller @ Cle
13. David Wilson @ Dal
14. Arian Foster @ SD
15. Maurice Jones-Drew vs KC
16. Matt Forte vs Cin
17. Frank Gore vs GB
18. Darren Sproles vs Atl
19. DeMarco Murray vs NYG
20. Darren McFadden @ Ind
21. Ben Tate @ SD
22. Daryl Richardson vs Ari
23. Ahmad Bradshaw vs Oak
24. Ryan Mathews vs Hou
25. Shane Vereen @ Buf
26. Chris Johnson @ Pit
27. Eddie Lacy @ SF
28. Giovani Bernard @ Chi
29. Bryce Brown @ Was
30. Mark Ingram vs Atl
31. Isaac Redman vs Ten
32. DeAngelo Williams vs Sea
33. Rashard Mendenhall @ StL
34. Chris Ivory vs TB
35. Joique Bell vs Min
36. Jacquizz Rodgers @ NO
37. Vick Ballard vs Oak
38. Bilal Powell vs TB
39. Fred Jackson vs NE
40. Pierre Thomas vs Atl
41. BenJarvus Green-Ellis @ Chi
42. Roy Helu vs Phi
43. Benny Cunninham vs Ari
44. Mike Tolbert vs Sea
45. Ryan Williams @ StL
46. Felix Jones vs Ten
47. James Starks @ SF
48. Shonn Greene @ Pit
49. Michael Bush vs Cin
50. Daniel Thomas @ Cle

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson vs Min
2. Dez Bryant vs NYG
3. Julio Jones @ NO
4. Pierre Garcon vs Phi
5. Larry Fitzgerald @ StL
6. Brandon Marshall vs Cin
7. Danny Amendola @ Buf
8. Antonio Brown vs Ten
9. Randall Cobb @ SF
10. Andre Johnson @ SD
11. Dwayne Bowe @ Jax
12. Reggie Wayne vs Oak
13. Roddy White @ NO
14. Victor Cruz @ Dal
15. A.J. Green vs Chi
16. Cecil Shorts vs KC
17. Hakeem Nicks @ Dal
18. Jordy Nelson @ SF
19. Marques Colston vs Atl
20. Kenbrell Thompkins @ Buf
21. T.Y. Hilton vs Oakland
22. Greg Jennings @ Det
23. Miles Austin vs NYG
24. DeSean Jackson @ Was
25. Chris Givens vs Ari
26. Steve Johnson vs NE
27. Mike Williams @ NYJ
28. Anquan Boldin vs GB
29. Golden Tate @ Car
30. Vincent Jackson @ NYJ
31. Steve Smith vs Sea
32. Mike Wallace @ Cle
33. Vincent Brown vs Hou
34. Kenny Britt @ Pit
35. Lance Moore vs Atl
36. Sidney Rice @ Car
37. James Jones @ SF
38. Greg Little vs Mia
39. Emmanuel Sanders vs Ten
40. Ryan Broyles vs Min
41. Alshon Jeffery vs Cin
42. Tavon Austin vs Ari
43. Mohammed Sanu @ Chi
44. Andre Roberts @ StL
45. Denarius Moore @ Ind
46. Rueben Randle @ Dal
47. DeAndre Hopkins @ SD
48. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs Oak
49. Michael Floyd @ StL
50. Kendall Wright @ Pit

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham vs Atl
2. Tony Gonzalez @ NO
3. Jordan Cameron vs Mia
4. Jason Witten vs NYG
5. Zach Sudfeld @ Buf
6. Fred Davis vs Phi
7. Antonio Gates vs Hou
8. Vernon Davis vs GB
9. Kyle Rudolph @ Detroit
10. Owen Daniels @ SD
11. Brandon Pettigrew vs Min
12. Brent Celek @ Was
13. Coby Fleener vs Oak
14. Jermichael Finley @ SF
15. Greg Olsen vs Sea
16. Jared Cook vs Ari
17. Martellus Bennett vs Cin
18. Rob Housler @ StL
19. Brandon Myers @ Dal
20. Anthony Fasano @ Jax
21. Dwayne Allen vs Oak
22. Tyler Eifert @ Chi
23. Vance McDonald vs GB
24. Scott Chandler vs NE
25. Jermaine Gresham @ Chi

Defenses

1. Texans @ SD
2. Colts vs Oak
3. Buccaneers @ NYJ
4. Patriots @ Buf
5. Steelers vs Ten
6. Seahawks @ Car
7. Rams vs Ari
8. Bengals @ Chi
9. Browns vs Mia
10. Cardinals @ St.L
11. Chiefs @ Jax
12. Bears vs Cin
13. Vikings @ Det
14. Giants @ Dal
15. 49ers vs GB